Georgia Baptists help Katrina victims see a better view

Sherri Brown

Buena Vista Drive - which means "good view" in Spanish - has almost no view after Hurricane Katrina hit. The foundation posts are the only thing that remains from a neighborhood of houses and condominiums in Long Beach, Miss.

Two Georgia Baptist associations are already partnering with churches in southern Mississippi that have been damaged or destroyed, but more are needed.

"We're working with the Mississippi Baptist Convention to identify churches needing assistance and we are identifying Georgia Baptist Associations that want to partner with churches in Mississippi to assist them in rebuilding and repairing their churches and communities," said Jim Richardson, Georgia Baptist Convention disaster relief coordinator.

Richardson developed a multitiered partnership process to help churches not only rebuild, but also to help minister to the community.

The first things associations will do is to get the assigned church opened and ready for worship and ministry. This can mean rebuilding and repairing or sometimes just heavy cleanup.

The second task will be to get church staff members back in their homes.

"We have to remember that pastors and staff members are victims, too. They can't minister effectively until they have their homes livable again," Richardson said.

The third action churches will do is to go into the community to minister to people.

"We don't have time to finish our church before we start ministry. We have to do both," said Al Green, pastor of First Baptist Church in Bay St. Louis, Miss. "There's a window of opportunity where people will be softened to the gospel. But it's a small window. We can't miss it."

First Baptist was flooded and received roof damage from high winds. The church, which averaged more than 250 in worship each Sunday, has only 70 members still in the area. Volunteers from several states have already started cleaning and repairing the church.

Trained disaster relief volunteers won't be able to do all the cleanup and ministry that needs to be done, Richardson said.

"This is the first time that every Georgia Baptist disaster relief unit has been deployed at one time. We're using at least 200 Georgia volunteers a day. Our heart is to involve people in ministry as the opportunity arises," he said.

Those looking to volunteer their time for disaster relief can attend a training session held Oct. 8 at Central Baptist Church in Douglasville.

John SwainNAMB

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Henry Mathis, of Gibson, cleans out water damage along with others from a Georgia Baptist recovery unit. Mathis is a member of Fellowship Baptist Church.

Sherri Brown

Elaine Jollay, a disaster relief volunteer from First Baptist Wynnbrook, shovels water and mud out of the sanctuary of First Baptist, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

John SwainNAMB

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Kemal Joseph, a member of Social Circle First Baptist Church, cleans out water damage along with others from a Georgia Baptist recovery unit.

John SwainNAMB

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Betty Watts of Rincon prepares meals along with others from a Georgia Baptist feeding unit to be delivered by the American Red Cross. Watts is a member of Springfield First Baptist Church.

John SwainNAMB

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Marilyn Wallace, of Fayetteville, cleans out water damage along with others from a Georgia Baptist recovery unit. Wallace, a member of Fayetteville First Baptist Church, is one of more than 5,000 Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers assisting Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina with services that include mass feeding of more than 2.2 million hot meals, cleanup and recovery, shower trailers, child care, laundry, and communication.

John SwainNAMB

Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer Clint Watkins, a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Gibson, cleans out water damage along with others from a Georgia Baptist recovery unit.