By Baptist Message staff
BLANCHARD, La. (LBM) – Members of the chainsaw team at First Baptist Church, Blanchard, recently to serve and to share Jesus in the aftermath of an April 28 storm.
During one of their stops, the team ministered to a widow who not only had a tree blocking her driveway but had lost her husband in January and her son a month before.
In the end, the team left the house “feeling more blessed than we ever thought that we could have been a blessing to her,” according to Craig Bond, unit director for the chainsaw team and task force leader for the Louisiana Baptist Incident Management Team.
“She had already received one quote earlier in the morning for a significant amount that she could not afford, and others were circulating through the area handing out cards,” Bond told the Baptist Message. “I told her what we were there to do, and it was going to be no charge to her, just let us handle it. She immediately began to cry, and hugged me, thanking me and saying that she had been standing out there praying for some kind of answer. I told her we were there to bring her hope.”
The team also helped a fellow church member remove a large limb hanging from a tree that posed danger to the homeowner and the team. Those serving on the team were Trace Ezernack, Stephen Davidson, Alton Carter, Rodger Mitchell, Kimberly Burkhalter, Isaiah Murry, Chris Lang, Joah Jett and Anthony Goings.
“The limb is known in the tree business and disaster relief as a widow maker due to the injuries and deaths from these limbs breaking and falling on people,” he said.
“Our team was able to get it down safely without incident. I can say without reservation that I am very proud of our team. They all have a servant’s heart and truly feel this is a calling for them as I feel it is for me also. We have grown in the last year in size, and the goal now is that we will grow spiritually through devotions and training in the next year.
“We’re blessed to be a part of a community that we love and will continue to show that we’re there for them through any of the storms that affect our area, while being trained and ready to respond to any part of our state or wherever else we are needed,” Bond said.
The storm was part of a larger system that damaged numerous homes, knocked out power to more than 55,000 households and produced at least one tornado in southwest Shreveport and three in northern Bossier Parish.
Other damage around the state included 80-100 mph winds blowing down trees near Tioga and straight-line winds downing trees near Anacoco High School.
At least one person died in the aftermath of the storm. According to KSLA-TV in Shreveport, a 69-year-old male resident of Plain Dealing died after his oxygen machine stopped working due to a power outage at his house, April 28.
LBDR Strategist Stan Statham said in addition to the chainsaw team from FBC Blanchard, another team will soon be deployed for storm cleanup in Desoto Parish.
“A feeding team also is on standby for the American Red Cross in case of a need to provide meals to storm survivors,” Statham said. “Once again we see the importance of having DR teams that can respond quickly to those in crisis.”
