By Maggie Evans, TAB Media METAIRIE, La. -- If you were to drive past Metairie Baptist Church just outside of New Orleans, you would see a parking lot filled to the brim with vehicles, trailers, tarps and all kinds of equipment inside a chain link fence. You would also see several Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers ensuring the safety and security of these materials, no matter the hour. These volunteers are members of the onsite management team — a team that includes former military and law enforcement members who have unique experience and training to offer. Albert Melvin flew Cobra helicopters during Vietnam, but fused vertebrae in his back ended his flying career and limited his physical abilities. But as a member of the onsite management team, he can serve those around him well. “Most of the equipment that’s used for cleanup belongs to the individual who brought it,” he said. By keeping watch over it so others can rest and recuperate from a long day’s work, Melvin — a member of Pine Terrace Baptist Church in Milton, Florida — can be a part of this ministry he loves. “Disaster Relief is the best example of friendship evangelism. … Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep,’ and we intend to be the hands and … [Read more...]

By Maggie Evans, TAB Media BELLE CHASSE, La. -- When Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams arrive in the days following storms, they strategically set up Incident Command Centers at churches in and near heavily damaged areas to serve as bases of operations. It’s in and out of these command centers that all information flows — work orders, volunteer efforts, coordination of teams, feeding, equipment. They function much like an ant hill. And when one of those command centers can’t function properly, it brings recovery efforts to a grinding halt. That’s exactly what happened at the Incident Command Center working out of First Baptist Church Belle Chasse in Louisiana. One of the Disaster Relief volunteers who had worked out of that command center tested positive for COVID-19 after returning home, which delayed the arrival of the next round of volunteers while the church was deep cleaned and sanitized. Work is expected to begin again Sept. 14 with teams from Alabama and South Carolina. … [Read more...]

By Maggie Evans, TAB Media HAMMOND, La. -- When Pastor Tim Moffett heard that Hurricane Ida would likely hit the Lake Pontchartrain area of Louisiana, he contacted Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief to offer up his church for whatever was needed. “We were in contact with the Arkansas Baptist Convention one day after Ida hit,” Moffett said. That’s how Woodland Park became an Incident Command Center that hosts teams from other states as well as other relief organizations. “We’re thrilled to be able to be their resource for our community,” he said. “Most people in this community are taking care of themselves and maybe a family member or neighbor … so we’re incredibly blessed by these people who walk away from jobs and responsibilities and just show up to help.” As of Sept. 14, there were 127 Disaster Relief volunteers staying at Woodland Park. Moffett says the volunteers were largely from Arkansas, but they also had some from Tennessee, Texas, Arizona and Alabama. Chainsaw teams out of this command center are working on more than 600 work orders, and the rainy weather coming in from Tropical Storm Nicholas isn’t helping the volunteers, but it isn’t completely stopping them either. Moffett said, “I’m so … [Read more...]