The call for First Baptist to help post-Katrina came during the Sunday night worship service.
MANSFIELD – The call for First Baptist to help post-Katrina came during the Sunday night worship service.
Joe Waggener, minister of education, was the one to take the call. He
was asked if First Baptist could take some evacuees. When he replied
affirmatively, and asked when, he was told they were on their way.
At the end of the worship service, the congregation was informed of, and discussed, the urgent need.
Within two hours, many members had responded and First Baptist was
ready to receive its evacuees. The fellowship hall and classrooms had
been outfitted with cots, sleeping bags, mattresses and bedding. As
they did not have shower facilities, arrangements were made with the
fire station to take people there for showers.
First Baptist volunteer cooks provided three meals a day. Others helped
with clean-up, transportation, shopping, and supervision.
First Baptist volunteers were at the church 24 hours a day. Some men,
doing shift work, would stop by at 3 a.m. on their way home to see what
they could do.
Men, women, and youth gave of their time and possessions. Volunteers always showed up on time.
There were about 60 people cared for by First Mansfield. Some only
stayed for one night, and some for longer periods. One family, in need
of longer-term housing, was given the use of a lakeside cabin by one of
the church families. Other church families offered trailers.
The church is still in contact with one couple from New Orleans. All
the evacuees said they were appreciative of and grateful for food and
shelter, Waggener said. The church reported no problems with anyone.
“There were some of them you would like to keep,” Waggener said.
This experience helped First Baptist know how to prepare for disasters.
The best part was that everyone worked together and that “Everyone
really turned their hearts and possessions loose to help in a time of
need,” Waggener said.