By the time hurricane season rolls in, Alabama Baptists hope to have a new disaster relief training and storage facility.
On Jan. 6, the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) broke ground for the Disaster Relief Resource Center in the Autauga Interstate Business Park in Prattville.
When finished, the resource center will house a variety of hardware and other resources related to disaster relief.
It also will serve as a venue for events during which volunteers will be trained in general and specialized disaster relief skills.
Mel Johnson, SBOM disaster relief strategist, pointed out the center’s central location.
“The 12,000-square-foot resource center will be dead center between north and south Alabama, off Interstate 65,” he said.
Jay Thompson, a member of the Autauga County Commission and one of several community leaders present at the ground-breaking ceremony, said the county is glad to have Alabama Baptists as partners.
“We see the State Board of Missions as giving back to our community,” he said.
Art Faulkner, director of emergency management for the state, affirmed Alabama Baptists’ disaster relief ministries.
“Often we think of government as the solution to emergency situations. But actually it is the volunteers who make the real difference,” he said.
“Partnering with the State Board of Missions gives our state the ability to respond well in times of disaster.”
SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance noted that the center will be more economically feasible because the SBOM has been renting property to house equipment for this “major component” of Alabama Baptists’ ministry. “Disaster relief ministries allow us to give a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name during times of crisis. The new facility will help our disaster relief volunteers be well-prepared,” he said.
Tom Stackhouse, president of the Central Alabama Electric Cooperative, and his employees provided luncheon refreshments for the ground-breaking ceremony participants. (TAB)
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