Alabama Baptists who want to assist in current disaster relief efforts may call a new Alabama Baptist Volunteer Hotline at the State Board of Missions.
“We’ve established a phone bank, which is answered by volunteers, to help Alabama Baptists find places to serve,” said Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
“The hotline is for primarily ‘untrained’ volunteers — those who haven’t yet been through Southern Baptist disaster relief training but may have significant skills and experience in areas such as medicine, construction, plumbing, electrical work, technology, architecture, agriculture, benevolence ministry, counseling, caretaking, etc.,” Lance explained.
The goal of the hotline is to match willing Alabama Baptists with places to serve in churches and communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina, he said.
“Generally speaking, those who volunteer through the hotline will be assigned to places other than the staging areas of the Southern Baptist disaster relief equipment and personnel,” Lance said.
“The reason is because the disaster relief staging areas are run in military-like fashion with volunteers who have been through highly specialized training — each knowing exactly what is expected and needed. Still we believe the hotline will provide a wide variety of means and places to serve for those who call,” he added.
To that end, SBOM has already begun identifying areas of Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana where volunteers who call the new hotline may be needed.
Richard Alford, an associate in the SBOM office of associational missions and church planting, is coordinating the phone bank. He said those who call will be asked a few questions about how and where they can serve.
“During the first phone conversation, we won’t be able to offer immediate specifics on where a caller can serve,” Alford said.
“But on a regular basis, we will be aiming to carefully and quickly match available volunteers with needs they can meet,” he said. “We plan to act promptly in finding a place of service for each volunteer.” “Ordinarily our goal would be to make an assignment within a few days,” Alford said.
Those wishing to volunteer may call the Alabama Baptist Volunteer Hotline at 334-280-7297 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays. After hours and on weekends, a voice message may be left in the general mailbox at the SBOM switchboard at 1-800-264-1225.
A volunteer will return the call on the next business day. Those who know of places where volunteers are needed may also call the hotline. (SBOM)
State hotline ready to match volunteers, needs
Related Posts

DR teams mobilize in wake of Pickens Co. tornado
February 9, 2016
Disaster Relief (DR) teams from several associations converged on Pickens County on Feb. 3 not 24 hours after a large

Former national WMU executive director dies at 84
January 5, 2015
Carolyn Weatherford Crumpler’s desire to dedicate herself to Christian service is one that lasted until the day of her death
First Baptist Church, Union Springs, Heart of Missions
June 26, 2014
About 30 members from First Baptist Church, Union Springs, and other area churches will travel to Caruthersville, Mo., July 19–26

Teen girls learn about missions at Complete
April 10, 2014
The sent life is not the safe life. That was the message driven home to nearly 500 teen girls and
Share with others: