Georgia Baptist disaster relief teams roll into service

Georgia Baptist disaster relief teams rolled into portions of the state Monday that were hit hard by the March 1 tornado-bearing storms.

By Monday evening seven teams were in place in Americus, Columbus, and Roberta, and one team had already ministered and pulled out of Thomson near Augusta.

The volunteers, ranging from cleanup and recovery to childcare and feeding units, were working throughout central Georgia ravaged by the storms that killed 20 in three states, including 9 in Georgia. Five Georgia Baptist churches were severely damaged and the Friendship Association office in Americus was destroyed.

Mack Herrington

Cheek Memorial Baptist Church in Americus lost its steeple but avoided serious water damage to its sanctuary. The congregation was able to meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday, though without power. A dusk-to-dawn curfew prevents evening services.

The latest church to report in, Cheek Memorial in Americus, lost its steeple but had no real water damage. However, the roof was peeled off of large portions of the educational building and recently remodeled fellowship hall. Pastor Houston Berry said the buildings were “completely ruined due to wind and water damage.” In addition, two out-buildings were blown away and a tree fell on the parsonage causing damage to the structure.

It was a real rip-snorter,” he told The Index.

The congregation held worship services at 2 p.m. on Sunday, even in the absence of water and power. About 70 people made their way to the service, which usually attracts 125. Berry said that was a “healthy attendance” based on what members had to deal with to get to church. The pastor said Sunday School classes most likely will not resume for six to eight weeks. A second worship service is planned for 1 p.m. next Sunday.

• In Columbus, two cleanup and recovery teams – GA 13R from Noonday Association in Marietta and GA 10R from West Metro Association in Douglasville – were in place and had completed 7 of 13 assignments. GBC disaster relief coordinator Stuart Lang said Don Grissom is supervising the work. A feeding unit is also staged at Schomburg Road Baptist Church.

In Americus, Bob Sprinkle of Hinesville reports that the childcare unit is onsite at the Disaster Recovery Center with seven workers from across the state involved in the ministry. Communications unit GA 5C, a statewide unit, is staged at Southland Academy adjacent to Central Baptist Church. It is operating as N4GBC on the 3.865 and 7.260 frequency. Feeding unit GA 9F from the Southeast Region is also operating in the area. Jack Segars is overseeing the Americus operation.

• In Roberta, feeding unit GA 1F from Rehoboth Association in Roberta used 14 volunteers to serve 439 meals on March 2 (the day after the tornado), 18 volunteers served 860 meals on March 3, and 16 volunteers served 260 meals on March 4. Ronnie Clements is overseeing the operation.

• In Thomson, cleanup and recovery unit GA 4R from Hepzibah Association in Wrens and feeding unit GA 2F from Kilpatrick Association in Thompson worked through Sunday evening before shutting down. The work has been completed and the units have returned home to await another assignment.

In a non-related geographical area, feeding unit GA 11F from Stone Mountain Association in Conyers/Covington is in Panama City, Fla., serving meals for the annual Beach Reach emphasis.

Lang said most units will be onsite for at least two weeks and will be extended as needs dictate. Volunteers served 1,200 hours between March 2 and March 5.

Mack Herrington

Large portions of the roof was peeled off of Cheek Memorial Baptist Church's educational building and newly remodeled fellowship hall. Pastor Houston Berry roughly estimates the damage could approach $400,000 due to the extensive damage to the interior.

Following is a breakdown of damage received by Georgia Baptist churches in the affected areas.

In Americus:

• Central Baptist Church, Hugh DeLoach associate pastor, received considerable damage resulting from destruction of an outbuilding where motor vehicles were occasionally housed, destruction of the steeple that allowed water to pour into the sanctuary, and a back wall of the sanctuary which separated from the building;

• Cheek Memorial Baptist Church, Houston Berry pastor, severe damage to the educational building, fellowship hall, and parsonage; steeple ripped from roof;

• Friendship Baptist Association building, Charles Stoops director of missions, totally destroyed.

In Columbus:

• Wynnbrook Baptist Church, Brad Hicks senior pastor, considerable damage including the loss of two recently purchased buses that were rolled across the lot; roof and water damage to all of its buildings;

• Calvary Baptist Church, about a mile from Wynnwood, Don Wilhite senior pastor, extensive damage including a back wall of the sanctuary which was sucked out rendering the building unuseable, two walls of the two-year-old gym which were blown away, outdoor sports complex completely destroyed; however, the church’s senior adult retirement village and assisted living facility were untouched;

In Thomson, 90-minutes east of Atlanta:

• New Hope Baptist Church, Allen Holbrook pastor, considerable damage, back wall of educational wing pulled away, half of sanctuary windows blown out, heavy winds blew out all nursery furniture and windows, destroyed kitchen roof, pulled out most of drop ceiling panels, five personal vehicles totaled with dumpster rolled against one vehicle, 60-passenger bus damaged and moved 25 feet with all windows blown out resulting in heavy water damage.

The Index will update this site as new developments occur.