Your Voice

Disaster Relief needs continue: Can you help?

By Cynthia Walker Watts
The Alabama Baptist

In a little more than a month’s time, 475-plus Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Kentucky responded to the damage in Baldwin County as a result of Hurricane Sally.

They have assessed damage, cut down trees, hauled debris, washed clothes, provided showers, driven skid steers, fed first responders and the communities, listened to and prayed with hundreds and truly been the hands and feet of Christ.

The needs have been tremendous. In one situation, trees totally blocked a driveway, preventing the resident from getting prompt emergency care.

Others are dealing with roof damage with devastating leaks, flooded houses, destroyed vehicles and heirlooms, and extended power and water outages.

Hundreds of people need to be consoled, counseled, encouraged and reassured. Many need clean clothes, diapers, baby formula, cleaning supplies and other daily essentials.

Initially there were command centers in Gulf Shores, Mobile, Bay Minette and Robertsdale. Robertsdale will be the last one to close.

Although all critical needs are being met, not every request has been able to be filled.

Just as the disaster areas have needs, Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief also has tremendous needs.

Volunteers are needed to cook, do laundry, clean showers, cut down trees, listen to and pray with residents and sometimes help them cry.

Hurricane Sally is not the last disaster, only the most recent one. Many of the volunteers are retirement age and older. Who will replace them? Will you be there for the next one?

EDITOR’S NOTE — Cynthia Walker Watts recently served with SBDR in coastal Alabama. Learn more about training and giving opportunities at sbdr.org.

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Letters to the editor from our readers

Thank you for the excellent editorial to clear the air about a name change for Southern Baptists. I kept hearing rumors and saw a Facebook post. Name change is a great way to lose your identity. Stay the course. People are interested in faith beliefs.

Pastor Bill Stephens
Crossway Baptist Church

When I was reading My Rashionale in the Oct. 15 issue of TAB, I thought about the scene from “Back to the Future” where Doc is giving Marty instructions on how to set the time machine.

We know God is still in charge, but it is a very scary time. I am grateful to be married to a godly man as we have spent almost 100% of each day over the last eight months together.

We are staying close to home and really miss going out with Disaster Relief teams, being able to travel and just going out to eat.

Of course, we are able to watch church services and participate in Sunday School online, but we miss the contact with others. So I look forward to TAB each week!

Amelia Pearson
Alexander City, Ala.

It is easy to focus on our own small circle of friends and family and forget that Christians around the world are often facing challenges we can barely imagine.

The Alabama Baptist helps to open our eyes and our hearts to the persecution of Christians around the globe. We also are reminded of the work of our missionaries and are exposed to the work of the full kingdom of God across the globe.

Thank you to the staff for helping us to keep a global focus on the movement of God.

Tim Moore
Leeds, Ala.

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A preacher preaches messages as a doctor prescribes medicine. Some take it the right way, and it helps and heals. Others take it the wrong way, and it hurts and harms.

Make sure to follow the directions!

Franklin L. Kirksey
Robertsdale, Ala.

The “Jesus + Works” mentality thrives in cultures where we are focused only on personal success and how much we can gain by our hard work.

The gospel proclaims, “It is finished.” There is nothing that we can do to earn salvation or favor with God.

This is quickly becoming a foreign concept in a society that is driven by academic achievement.

Our job does not change. We must continue to boldly preach the gospel to all students and to help guide them along their journey.

Spencer Jones
Minister to high school students
FBC Trussville

Darkness can’t push back darkness. Only God’s light can.

Hate can’t push back hate. Only God’s love can.

Let’s be God’s light and love.

Jay Wolf, pastor emeritus
FBC Montgomery

Having one mission turns ordinary living into an extraordinary adventure.

One Mission Students
onemissionstudents.org

The good news is our salvation is protected by the power of God — the power that spoke the cosmos into existence, cracked the earth open in the great flood, brought Jesus from heaven to earth and then from the grave to heaven. The power that forgives sin and causes grown up people to be born again also keeps us safe in Jesus.

I do not hold onto Jesus’ hand — that would be a perilous way to live. Jesus holds me with His hand and nothing can undo His grip of love, grace and forgiveness.

Bob Adams
Retired pastor

The Lord always prepares His people for the future He has for them. God sees the end from the beginning. Our God never panics and is always present with us in every moment.

When facing their own crisis moment, Joshua and the people of God had to determine one thing: Will we believe God?

President Ronnie Floyd
SBC Executive Committee

Let’s be candid.

None of us are doing as well as we should, mentally or emotionally.

But there is hope. There’s always hope.

Tony Martin
youcanhavehope.com

October is a great time to show [your pastor] appreciation because it has been designated on the calendar.

However, to really cause your pastor to feel immense joy in his work, have the church put together a plan to show its appreciation for him throughout the year. After all, showing support and love to your pastor every day is the best gift of all.

As (Heb. 13:17) says, “Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden …”

Philip Jones
Multi-vocational pastor ministry consultant for Oklahoma Baptists

Make no mistake, it is our choice to speak death or life to someone. We have that choice. Sometimes the best response is no response.

Amy Hacker
theropetab.com

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@macbrunson
Pastors, let your study be the meeting place between you and the Master. If there is something in there that shouldn’t be there, get it out. If there is something there that distracts, get it out. Keep it a sacred place.

@johnthweatt
“Half-hearted, cultural Christianity cannot produce full-throttled, earth-shaking results.” — David Young

@timkellerynyc
No one Christian has all the gifts. We all know that. So why would any one church have all the gifts and not need anyone else?

@RogerMardis
“You can’t make the gospel any better, but you should make it louder.” @zachterry, great word tonight brother.

@drjamesmerritt
Whatever you do in life, you better do it all for Jesus. Then whether it gets noticed or not, thanked or not, praised or not, you won’t wind up a bitter old person.

@louiegiglio
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col. 3:15).

@brocraigc
“Be much in prayer. Prayer keeps the Christian steadfast.”
— Spurgeon

@EdLitton
You and I cannot live for ourselves and God at the same time.

@myutmost
If you waste your time in overactivity, instead of being immersed in the great fundamental truths of God’s redemption, then you will snap when the stress and strain do come. #myutmost — utmost.org

@TheTrinityChrch
We are worse than we think. God is better than we think.
— @PastorMark

@sPeytonHill
There are some exhausted, faithful pastors leading their churches through a global pandemic, racial injustices and an upcoming election, and they are leading alone without any staff. Praise God for these men, and pray for encouragement and endurance.

@ricklance
In a world of confusion and chaos, we long for safety and stability. As Christians, we know that only the God of John 16:33 can provide that.