As emergency response continues in Venezuela following June’s earthquakes, Southern Baptists have been faithful in continued prayer and generosity.
Last week, International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood joined a team on the ground at the invitation of Elier Romero, general director of the Venezuelan National Baptist Convention. Chitwood was joined by Jason Cox, Send Relief vice president for international ministry, Matt Waldraff, IMB missionary serving as Send Relief area director for the Americas, and Mike Brungardt, leader of IMB personnel in the Americas.
The team visited damaged areas in and around Caracas, the capital of Venezuela and one of the hardest-hit regions. They also witnessed Venezuelan Baptists serving their communities. Send Relief has been serving local churches in Venezuela since before the earthquakes, which enabled quickly response to the recent disaster with emergency funding and coordination. Send Relief partners were activated less than 24 hours after the earthquakes hit.
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“The death toll is already beyond 3,500 people. There are thousands upon thousands of people who are homeless,” Chitwood said, standing in the rubble of toppled buildings. “It’s an indescribable scene. A response to this terrible devastation is demanded of us to bring compassion and help.”
Key to response
Chitwood described the 75-year partnership with Venezuelan Baptist churches as being key to the effective response.
“The IMB helped start the Venezuelan Baptist Convention,” he said. “Now there’s over 700 of those churches here. Working alongside them, we’re bringing a very practical response to the needs that are here: clean water, meals, emergency shelters and most importantly, the hope of the gospel.”
Cox said that even in the devastation, he has seen the commitment of local Baptist churches to serve their neighbors, while also ministering to each other in this time of loss.
“These churches are serving while they’re experiencing grief and trauma themselves,” Cox said. “I met and prayed with a pastor yesterday who lost his son and granddaughter in the rubble. It was heartbreaking — but there he was, still doing what he could to serve his community.”
One local ministry team shared the story of a man they met in a public plaza in Caracas. He was the only survivor in his family. The only “home” he had was the piece of cardboard he was sleeping on. The team immediately responded to his needs with a few basic supplies, including a tent to use for shelter. They took time to share the hope of Jesus Christ and told him about their church.
A few days later, he walked for hours to find the church. On Sunday (July 5), he professed his faith in Jesus, surrounded by a new family of faith. Since then, he has served alongside the church, even returning to the plaza where he once slept to serve others who still sleep on scraps and pray to survive one more night.
Stories of hope and strength
Waldraff explained that even in the devastation, stories of hope and strength are evident.
“Every site we visited, we found the same pattern — people who had every reason to give up were instead looking for who they could help next,” Waldraff said. “That resilience isn’t new. It’s the same faith these churches have been building on for decades, and now it’s on full display.”
Chitwood asked for continued giving toward disaster relief efforts.
“I want to invite you to join us in this response, to join us by praying for those who are suffering in unimaginable ways,” he said. “Join us by giving generously to the ongoing relief efforts.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by and originally published by Send Relief and the International Mission Board.
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