October 1, 2026
NEWPORT, Tenn. — As the second anniversary of Hurricane Helene nears later this month, the memory of the high winds and flooding has faded somewhat for those who didn’t experience major damage, but for homeowners like Al Martin, the memories are still vivid.
Hurricane Helene hit the Appalachia area of East Tennessee and western North Carolina with tremendous force on Sept. 27, 2024, dumping between 25 and 30 inches of rain over a two-day period, leaving more than 250 people dead and numerous others without their homes or businesses.
Al Martin lost both. He shared his story during a service on his property Aug. 31 that celebrated the 40th home built — his home — a collaboration between the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and its Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief ministry, in partnership with Appalachia Service Project.
“Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief was on the ground that day (when the hurricane hit) working, and we have not stopped since,” said Garry Maddox, TBDR Arise and Build coordinator.
Tennessee DR volunteers, along with other volunteers from across the country, helped residents recover from the flooding and high winds with immediate cleanup efforts while providing food, water, shower trailers, and other necessities to displaced residents. Teams helped hundreds of homeowners by providing mud-out and debris removal to help residents get ready for long-term recovery.
Maddox noted ASP, a Christian ministry based in Johnson City that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair and replacement in Central Appalachia, was also on the ground that day and has not stopped either. “And we’re not going to stop,” he pledged.
Randy C. Davis, TBMB president and executive director, joined Maddox in welcoming those attending the celebration event on the Martin property. “This is an incredible milestone,” he said.
Davis recalled that just weeks after Helene left the area devastated, TBMB and ministry leaders from across the area gathered at First Baptist in Greeneville and started sharing the stories of the incredible destruction they had seen across the region. “ASP joined us at that meeting, and there was a collective cry to let us Arise and Build,” Davis said, referencing Nehemiah 2.
Tennessee Baptists pledged $1 million and labor to help build 40 new homes for homeowners in partnership with ASP. Each of the 40 homes was sponsored by a local church or association.
In addition to the 40 new homes funded by TBMB, Tennessee Baptists repaired 795 homes and deployed 764 teams involving 93,389 volunteer hours to help residents recover.
Teams also helped repair 106 bridges, culverts, and roads damaged by Helene. In addition, God’s Warehouse, a ministry of Nolachucky Baptist Association in Morristown and another location in Elizabethton, filled more than 1,000 orders for building supplies, according to TBMB officials.
Davis said many other organizations have built houses across the region. “It’s been a kingdom effort,” he said. “The most important thing that has happened is that men and women and boys and girls, through the efforts of TBDR and others, have come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ.”
Melisa Winburn, president and CEO of ASP, recalled that the destruction caused by Helene changed the landscape of the region.
“I believe in a God of rainbows after storms. We are not promised an easy life, but we are promised presence, and sometimes we get to be that presence for each other.”
She shared that she had only been on the job for six months when Helene hit, and she admitted she was overwhelmed. Then, she received word from TBMB that it was ready to build 40 homes.
“I cannot tell you what a tremendous partnership that has been,” she said.
Just as important as the homes that have been built are the relationships that were developed, she continued.
“Everything we build here physically together will be gone one day, but those relationships we build are eternal,” she said. “You have been sharing the love of God over and over again with your neighbors in need, and we appreciate that.”
Martin then shared his story. His home and farm are near the Nolichucky River. “We lost everything we ever owned,” he said.
Instead of talking about what he lost, Martin shared what God did immediately after the hurricane and in the months since then. He recalled how his wife kept reminding him that God would provide — just be patient. “God showed up every time I asked for something.”
For the past two years, the Martins lived in the barn with no heat or air conditioning. They had a lot of debt and were unable to build a house. It appeared they would have to sell the farm to pay off their debts and start over with nothing, Martin said.
He heard about ASP and contacted it. With the help of ASP, along with TBMB and Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, which sponsored the house, Martin has a new home and will be able to keep his farm.
“This is not just a house,” he said. “This is hope. God showed up, and we are going to make it.”
Mal Underwood, disaster relief coordinator for Brentwood Baptist Church, led the dedication prayer for the house. Brentwood Baptist sponsored 14 of the houses. “Missions is a part of our DNA,” he said.
Before the celebration ended, Davis announced that there were more needs to be met.
“We didn’t unfurl a banner that said, ‘mission accomplished’ because we are not finished,” he said.
“Today, we have sent a wire transfer of a half million dollars to ASP. That gift is in the hands of God from Tennessee Baptists and a lot of other people. We look forward to doing this again and again.”
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This article appeared in the Baptist and Reflector.
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