By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams have been activated to minister in Oklahoma, Texas and the Philippines.
The teams going to areas affected by the winter storm in Oklahoma and Texas are working there from next week through late this month. Teams from Carey, Eastern Louisiana and Washington, and Two Rivers associations will work in Hugo, Okla. Another team from Northwest Association will minister in Paris, Texas.
The winter storm in Hugo and other parts of Oklahoma dumped snow, ice and sleet and left behind snapped trees and thousands in the dark by the time it moved out of the state last weekend. Residents of Paris and other areas of North Texas dealt with the same weather event, with similar results as Oklahoma.
Financial gifts have already been received but between $8,000 and $10,000 is what is needed to complete the cost of the trip in the area devastated by the typhoon. The team is being led by Freddie Arnold who is from Eastern Louisiana Association is scheduled to work in the country Jan. 17-26. Other members of the team are Billy Puckett of New Orleans Association, Ben Fussell of Washington Association, Joey Rudisill of Central Louisiana Association and Jeff Cook from Louisiana Baptist Convention Compassion Ministry Evangelism.
The deadly typhoon devastated the country on Nov. 8 and since then Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams have traveled to the island to help with needs of those whose community was battered and without much access to relief supplies.
Ironically, a missions team from several Louisiana Baptist churches was in the Philippines as the typhoon approached. The storm affected areas south of them, as their area received 35 to 40 mph wind and little rain.
Herrell Shelton, associate pastor for pastoral ministries at Airline Baptist in Bossier City, and his fellow team members arrived to perform medical and dental clinics in San Fernando, Philippines on Nov. 1, with plans to remain there until Nov. 10. However, as news of the approaching storm reached the team of seven they were forced to cut their trip short by two days – essentially canceling their Friday medical clinic.
And even though the missions team from Louisiana was somewhat nervous as the storm approached, Shelton said the residents in that area of the Philippines were calm and collected.
“Where we were there life is consumed by day-to-day existence,” Shelton said. “You have to realize this was their 24th typhoon of the year. We were very nervous and concerned but they said life goes on.”
This was the ninth time Airline Baptist has participated in a missions trip to the Philippines. In the past they have ministered in areas that were affected by the Philippines, though Shelton was unaware of the status of those churches with whom they worked alongside.
To help with relief efforts in the Midwest and the Philippines visit www.lbc.org/disasterrelief.