Disaster Relief volunteers serving Matthew survivorsOctober 11, 2016 by Joe Conway, NAMB | |
While Matthew was still churning up the U.S. eastern seaboard as a Category 4 hurricane, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were already preparing hot meals for storm evacuees in Florida. READ MORE |
Hurricane Matthew: Cuba is disaster relief focusOctober 10, 2016 by David Roach, Baptist Press | |
Though media reports of Hurricane Matthew’s devastation in the Caribbean have tended to spotlight Haiti, Baptist Global Response plans to focus its relief efforts on Cuba, where damage is severe. READ MORE |
Clinton, Trump clash in 2nd debateOctober 11, 2016 by Tom Strode, Baptist Press | |
The U.S. Supreme Court – the defining issue for many evangelical Christians in the 2016 presidential election – finally received attention just before the close of the second debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Oct. 9. READ MORE |
Rivers continue to rise after hurricane MatthewOctober 10, 2016 by K. Allan Blume & Dianna L. Cagle, BR staff | |
North Carolina continues to reel from the after effects of Hurricane Matthew. As rising rivers have yet to crest in many areas, North Carolina Baptists are responding where they can. READ MORE |
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Column: Teaching children about suffering
K. Allan Blume BR Editor | Record floods devastate N.C. communities Many of our brothers and sisters in the central and eastern part of the state are struggling with extensive destruction of property and loss of life from record floods this week. Hurricane Matthew left many flooded and without electricity, and there is no promise that power can be restored soon. The problem is not a deficiency with the power company. The problem is flood waters that prevent access to damaged power lines, transformers and substations. Those who had food in their refrigerators and freezers have lost everything. Little food is available since stores are closed or inaccessible. If the stores were able to open, they do not have electricity and trucks cannot reach many areas with food and supplies. It’s a bad situation and the worst part may not be over for several more days since flood waters are still rising. The river near Kinston reaches flood stage at 18 feet above normal, but this flood is expected to reach all time flood levels of 28 feet above normal. Richard Brunson and the Baptists on Mission team are doing a superb job of responding to needs and coordinating thousands of volunteers. We reported that Brunson is predicting the damage from Matthew to exceed that of Hurricane Floyd in 1999. He said the recovery could continue for a year or more. This is a good time to remind your church that Baptists on Mission does not get funds for disaster relief projects from the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. They depend on your offerings from the North Carolina Mission Offering. Please give generously to this offering through your church this week or click here to give now. The hidden story is that directors of missions, pastors and church members have dropped everything and are working tirelessly to serve and rescue others in their communities. I’ve talked with many pastors and associational leaders this week. Their stories are incredible. Many churches have not been able to hold services due to power outages and floods. Churches that are accessible have been providing meals, showers, beds and clothing for the community. Jeff Isenhour, pastor of Aaran Lake Baptist Church in Fayetteville, posted a Facebook video that described some of the desperate needs. He said an elderly couple lost everything in the flood – their home, cars and personal belongings. He pleads for help for this family. The N.C. Baptist Children’s Homes’ Kinston Campus has been evacuated. Schools have closed for at the week in many counties. Please pray for everyone who has been impacted by this disaster, pray for volunteers who serve the people impacted and pray that the funds will be available to meet the needs. Please take note: The Northeast North Carolina Prayer Summit, scheduled for this Saturday, October 15 at Cashie Baptist Church in Windsor, has been cancelled due to the impact of Hurricane Matthew. Many other events have been cancelled, so call before you attend an event. |