Spare Change October 2017
I simply want to remind you of the good work that our Southern Baptist volunteers do during natural disasters. Send Relief (a part of the North American Mission Board) has responded to the hurricane flooding and damage in both Texas and Florida. As a member of a Southern Baptist Church you should be proud not only because our people are helping but also that we contribute to the Cooperative Program (which supports NAMB) every month. You can also give directly to the NAMB online (www.namb.net) or over the phone (800-634-2462). You can feel good that every dollar goes to help with the relief effort. Below are some highlights from an article published by the Baptist Press on Sept. 11th by Josie Bingham.
FLORIDA (BP) -- Mark MacDonald walked around his Jacksonville home Monday morning (Sept. 11) assessing the damage done by Hurricane Irma. "Our roof is leaking and a few trees are down," MacDonald said. "I was curious as to how our neighbors were doing …. their garden was completely torn to shreds. It's not ideal, but it really could have been worse for us. We're all thankful to God for that." Monday, Sept. 11, MacDonald will be working on his own home and aiding his neighbors. But as the sun rises Tuesday, MacDonald will help lead teams of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers and trained experts in feeding units, mud-out and more.
As the strategic communications catalyst for the Florida Baptist Convention, MacDonald said he is "overseeing all our communications strategy for Hurricane Irma. Just like the early response in Harvey, we've anticipated Hurricane Irma and the response she'd require ahead of time. I've met with our disaster relief teams over the weeks. We are ready to provide 500,000 meals a day in the southern parts of Florida. Feeding is the first thing we will be doing Tuesday."
Preparations are being made by the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Pennsylvania/South Jersey, New York and Virginia Baptist conventions to respond to the needs of hurricane survivors as Irma continued to crawl up Florida and into South Georgia.
As of Monday, Sept 11, Hurricane Harvey SBDR response has witnessed 29 professions of faith and initiated 508 Gospel conversations; provided 444,765 meals, 7,240 showers and 4,534 loads of laundry; and completed 109 construction jobs including 47 roof repairs.
For donation and volunteer information:
Hurricane Harvey response: https://www.namb.net/send-relief/disaster-relief/hurricane-harvey
Hurricane Irma response: https://www.namb.net/send-relief/disaster-relief/hurricane-irma
Read the entire article: http://www.bpnews.net/49513/irma-response-to-begin-harvey-relief-work-continues