RESPONDING TO THE CALL

Disaster Relief

Blessings In Wake of Disaster

At the request of Governor Brad

Henry, over 1,500 Oklahoma

Baptists volunteered to greet and

assist hurricane victims from the

Gulf Coast Region at Falls Creek

Baptist Conference Center. More

than 3,000 beds were prepared and

over 5,000 Buckets of Blessing care

two days. Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency

ultimately decided not to utilize Falls Creek, Oklahoma Baptists

were prepared to serve survivors, the state and our Savior.

One hundred percent of the funds received for disaster relief are

used to meet the needs and minister to affected people because

Oklahoma Southern Baptist churches provide for the operating

expenses with their Cooperative Program gifts.

Throughout the year several devastating natural disasters gave

the Oklahoma Disaster Relief Team opportunities to express

the love of Christ to thousands of hurting people.

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams represent the second

largest trained volunteer organization in the nation and prepare

an estimated 80 percent of the

hot meals distributed by the

American Red Cross in the

United States. There are over

1,150 trained Baptist disaster

relief volunteers in Oklahoma.

In 2005, teams responded to

tsunami victims in Indonesia, and

Thailand, where over 150,000

people lost their lives. Oklahoma

Baptist teams traveled to the

region taking care of medical needs and assisting local hospitals

and clinics. In all, 27 Oklahoma teams, made up of 132

volunteers, provided relief in the tsunami stricken area.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief Feeding Units were the first

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Teams preparing hot meals for

victims following Hurricane Katrina, the largest natural disaster

in the history of the United States.

By early October, over 200 Oklahoma Baptist trained volunteers

had logged over 21,000 man hours, prepared over 300,000 hot

meals and cleared fallen trees and storm debris from over 250

homes. Disaster Relief Chaplains accompanied each mobile unit

to minister in word and deed.

Forty Southern Baptist State Convention Disaster Relief Teams

combined to prepare over 6 million meals within six weeks after

Hurricane Katrina.

Chainsawing a Path for Victims of Hurricane Katrina

The greatest blessing I receive through our experiences is from

the visit with the homeowners to pray with them and for them.

It is always wonderful to share about Jesus; that’s why we are

here, not only physically, but spiritually. Even if we don’t see

them come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior on our rotation,

we plant the seeds for another crew to come along, water and

possibly see the harvest.

— Ted Wilson

Member of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief

Chainsaw Team

Ted Wilson was a part of the many chainsaw teams that cleared

fallen trees and storm debris from over 250 homes in the New

Orleans area after Hurricane Katrina.

Volunteers prepared thousands

of meals for victims.

5,000 Buckets of Blessings

were distributed.