By Waylon Bailey Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area and the Mississippi Gulf Coast twelve years ago yesterday. I thought I would never again see anything as devastating. Hurricane Harvey is making everyone reassess their understanding of the word “catastrophe.” The images and the reports are beyond comprehension. Two nights ago I awakened in the middle of the night thinking of those people in flooded homes–or worse–awaiting rescue. I remembered how three days into Katrina, I began to wonder if water and food would hold out (It did because of people who went above and beyond to take care of others). Now I wonder how those in the Houston area are doing. Yesterday I received a report from the North American Mission Board (NAMB). The mission board along with other Southern Baptists make up the third largest disaster relief organization in the country. This is what NAMB and Southern Baptists have been asked to do. Mobilize churches and volunteers to house and feed more than 4,000 volunteers, provide facilities for 50-60,000 individuals, and serve an anticipated 343,000 meals on a daily basis. Unfortunately, relief workers may not be able to get into the flood zone for several days. This is a daunting … [Read more...]