By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief Associate & Volunteer Mobilizer Mark Morelock has been named the new disaster relief specialist with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Morelock will join that staff Nov. 2.
He will succeed Wes Jones, who retires in January after ministering in that position for 11 years.
“One of the greatest blessings of my life has been serving Louisiana Baptists,” Morelock told the Baptist Message. “The greatest part of my time here is the relationships built with people in our churches.
“Louisiana Baptists are like a family,” he continued. “Whether it is disaster relief, a meeting or stepping into one of our churches, it’s like a family reunion each time.”
During his tenure with Louisiana Baptists, Morelock has helped coordinate DR responses to hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, fires and winter storms. He also has assisted in the training of countless leaders of all ages to become members of DR teams and helped implement updated incident management and reporting processes.
Morelock said that establishing the first Rebuild Program in Louisiana is a milestone he will always remember. It was launched as a pilot program in late March 2022 to assist natural disaster survivors to rebuild their homes and buildings, a step further than what has been typical (mudouts, debris removal, etc.) in previous disaster relief responses. So far, the expanded ministry has helped victims of Hurricane Ida in Houma and Tropical Storm Arthur in Avoyelles Parish.
MEMORIES MADE
One of the most rewarding experiences during his time in Louisiana was when he led a Hurricane Laura survivor to a relationship with Jesus on Sept. 4, 2020.
Morelock was a DR chaplain and pastor with Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Bogalusa, at the time. He said Paige LeDoux was deeply troubled when he encountered her in the feeding line on the campus of Trinity Baptist Church, Lake Charles.
The storm had destroyed her house and LeDoux told Morelock she had no place to turn. But after hearing Morelock share about the hope she could find in Christ, LeDoux placed her faith in the Lord.
“This encounter really seared in my heart that this ministry is what the Lord called me to do,” Morelock said.
Morelock said clearing debris off homes, offering showers to residents and feeding thousands of people a day are vital. But that they are a means to the end represented by LeDoux’s decision to turn to Christ.
“Any time I’ve gotten to share the Gospel and lead people to the Lord has been great,” he said. “It’s a reminder that disaster relief is a vehicle and a tool for the Gospel.”
WORDS OF APPRECIATION
Those who have worked with Morelock said he will be missed but are anticipating the impact he will have for Christ in Tennessee, where he originally moved from in 2013 after experiencing his call to vocational ministry.
“Mark has a unique set of skills that allows him to be productive in leading and managing the big pictures down to the intricate details of the who, what, when, where and how,” Louisiana Baptist Missions and Ministry Team Director James Jenkins said. “As the associate DR director, he proved very capable of directing operations required for the present day and making projections of operations that we may require for the future. He has a sense of humor that I believe helps lessen the tension in difficult circumstances, yet at the same time he radiates a faith that gives a calm assurance that others can depend on.
“Mark’s skills were also on display as he directed our Disaster Relief Rebuild program, gave oversight of the Mission Builder Program, and coordinated the application process of special funding,” he continued. “We will miss Mark.”
Louisiana Baptist Men’s Ministry & Disaster Relief/Compassion Relief Strategist Stan Statham echoed Jenkins’s thoughts.
“God has used Mark to move our DR ministry forward in the use of technology and organizational effectiveness,” he said. “But his servant’s heart and desire to mentor and disciple DR volunteers is what we will miss the most. We pray for his transition and God will use him as the state DR director of Tennessee in a mighty way.”
Morelock expressed gratitude for the opportunity he has had to serve alongside Jenkins, Statham, Ministry Assistant Lily Bordelon and Louisiana Baptist Executive Director Steve Horn. He also was appreciative of the support from his wife, Jeni, and family.
“The Lord has placed so many people in my life that have encouraged, mentored, loved, and ministered to me,” he said. “And that has made ‘all things possible.”
