Southern Baptists set giving, relief records

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — A $2 million challenge for donations to Southern Baptist disaster relief has been met and will result in an additional $2 million grant to assist the North American Mission Board (NAMB) in its comprehensive Gulf Coast hurricane relief ministries. Attainment of the milestone was announced Oct. 5 by Robert E. “Bob” Reccord, NAMB’s president, to the entity’s board of trustees.

Christian philanthropists Lynn and Foster Friess issued the $2 million challenge in September through NAMB. “(The Fosters’) challenge has now resulted in over $4 million to Southern Baptist relief efforts — by far the greatest gift ever given to this agency and its ministries,” Reccord said.

In disaster relief efforts, an all-time record has been reached — more than 7.9 million meals prepared to date for victims of Katrina and Rita. But while the efforts of Southern Baptist feeding units are tapering off, the need for cleanup and recovery operations continues to grow, said Jim Burton, director of volunteer mobilization for NAMB. “Volunteers will be needed for years to assist in the long-term recovery efforts,” Burton said.