By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer
ALEXANDRIA – Natural disasters of proportions unmatched in Louisiana’s history required equally historic responses in 2016.
Flooding, the likes of which had not been experienced before swept through the state not once but twice this year — first in March, and later in August, dumped record amounts of rain, causing deaths and enormous property damage.
The one-two punch left the state reeling in the aftermath.
TRAGEDY & TRIUMPH
Yet, through it all, Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief teams, aided by Southern Baptist volunteers from around the country, were faithful to respond – offering the comfort of a helping hand, sharing a message of hope in Christ, and sometimes just prayer– despite suffering personal losses as well.
The spring floods, resulting from more than three feet of cumulative rainfall in 48 hours in some areas, affected more than 18,000 homes and damaged 14 Louisiana Baptist churches. Importantly, an estimated 85 percent of the state’s trained disaster relief personnel were impacted during this time, yet they responded to the many needs of others.
Southern Baptists were up to the challenge, too, immediately sending money and hundreds of volunteers to help with the cleanup.
Five months later, the state’s southern parishes were unexpectedly deluged with never-before-recorded amounts of precipitation in that area – about 31 inches over two days — which caused flooding in neighborhoods which had not experienced such high water. This time more than 155,000 houses were affected and 72 Louisiana Baptist churches damaged.
Once again, Louisiana Baptists responded with help from fellow Southern Baptists.
Even Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards took notice of Louisiana Baptists’ disaster relief response, praising Southern Baptists for getting the job done while most government agencies were still “getting a game plan together to help,” according to Gevan Spinney, pastor of First Baptist Church in Haughton, and president of the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
“While countless ministries and organizations from across the country did so much to help, the cooperative effort of Southern Baptists in the end made the difference,” Spinney continued. “Many of us have seen firsthand the benefit of cooperative giving displayed in the army of yellow shirts from Disaster Relief.
“Incident command centers were strategically located and boots hit the ground almost immediately with chaplain and assessment teams, followed by mud-out teams, cooking teams and shower and laundry teams from our neighboring states,” Spinney said. “It was an effort that made all Southern Baptists swell with pride to be a part of such a group.”
Despite the overwhelming tragedy, there were many individual moments of triumph during both response efforts.
“For every eight presentations of the Gospel message a person professed Christ,” LBC Disaster Relief Director Gibbie McMillan said. That is why we do all the various types of work in response to these disasters. More than 250 souls won to faith in Christ is something to shout about and all the angels in Heaven rejoice when one sinner repents. This does not count the seeds that were sown and shall be reaped in the months ahead.”
MARCH
During the spring disaster relief effort in the northern and southeastern parts of the state, Louisiana Baptists and Southern Baptist volunteers from other states completed 480 clean-up jobs, served 70,493 meals and distributed 910 Bibles.
By the time disaster relief activities ended for this period, Southern Baptist volunteers from 29 states had helped.
A total of 50 people accepted Christ during field operations.
AUGUST
Just as most folks in the state were finishing up recovery from the spring disaster, another record downpour hit southern Louisiana in the early fall.
In fact, some of the homes, businesses and churches damaged by the March floods had not yet been fully rebuilt.
Yet again, Louisiana Baptists and Southern Baptist brothers and sisters stepped up in Jesus’ name.
More than 170 teams from 29 state conventions responded, completing 9,184 clean-up jobs, preparing 679,484 meals and distributing 2,892 Bibles.
At one time, as many as 27 churches were serving as command centers or distribution sites. As of mid-November, only Florida Boulevard Baptist remains an active command center, and groups still working on relief efforts are staying at Bethel Baptist Church in Franklinton, Bethlehem Baptist Church in Albany, Camp Living Waters in Hammond and Judson Baptist Church in Walker.
Volunteers witnessed 201 people on the field join fellowship with Christ.
FUTURE
Looking back, McMillan said the March and August disasters served as reminders of the impact disaster relief teams can have for Christ. He also encouraged Louisiana Baptists to get ready for the next catastrophe, now.
“Louisiana is a partner with 41 other state conventions responding to the needs of those hurting and in need of assistance,” McMillan said. “This year the needs were due to flooding next year it may be due to a hurricane. Regardless we must train and be ready long before the tragedy strikes.”
For more information on how you can volunteer with and give toward Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief efforts, visit louisianabaptists.org/disasterrelief.
