Six months after Hurricane Helene, which caused over 200 deaths and $200 billion in damages, Southern Baptists are focused on relief and rebuilding efforts across affected states. SBDR has distributed over 1 million meals and facilitated numerous recovery projects, shifting now to assisting with home construction and providing community support. They aim to continue these efforts through 2025 with state and organizational support.
Six months following Hurricane Helene’s landfall on September 26, 2024, Southern Baptists are actively engaged in assisting survivors and rebuilding efforts. The storm, which impacted six states and resulted in over 230 fatalities alongside an estimated $200 billion in damages, is noted as the costliest disaster in U.S. history.
According to Josh Benton, the vice president for national ministry at Send Relief, the extensive reach of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) exemplified the network’s strength and capability to respond effectively across vast territories. Benton expressed gratitude to state disaster leadership and volunteers for their dedication in serving needs and sharing the gospel post-crisis.
In the aftermath of the storm, SBDR provided over 1 million meals, executed more than 7,800 recovery jobs, and counted 244 professions of faith at nearly 40 sites spanning across affected states. Presently, efforts in Appalachia have transitioned from recovery to rebuilding, notably with the Arise and Build initiative led by Maria Lee, wife of Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who has participated in facilitating over 110 recovery jobs.
Western North Carolina, particularly Asheville, suffered the most devastating impacts from Helene. Todd Unzicker, executive director-treasurer of N.C. Baptists, commended the collaborative response from local churches as embodying the essence of being “on mission together.” The initial response focused on urgent needs through meal provision and flood cleanup, while current efforts are focused on constructing homes for survivors as winter approaches.
Richard Weeks, an associational mission strategist for the Eastern Baptist Association, has been actively involved since the storm’s aftermath. Weeks highlighted the unique challenges presented by Helene’s severity and terrain, stating, “I’ve been doing this since 1999… but this is one of the most unique storms I’ve ever been a part of.” The rebuilding effort is categorized into phases, with quick repairs allowing families to return home before winter, and more extensive renovations planned.
So far, approximately 1,400 disaster response teams comprised of over 7,000 volunteers have worked alongside Baptists on Mission, successfully completing around 130 homes while an additional 250 are under construction. Unzicker remarked on stories of faith transformations as community members realize the church’s commitment to helping its neighbors.
Weeks recounted an experience of a family in Canton who, inspired by the volunteers’ kindness during the repairs, returned to church. “…this has brought back a hope and a faith that the church is really at the forefront of trying to meet the needs of people,” Weeks shared. The church’s outreach has also led to the conversion of volunteers, showcasing the spiritual impact of disaster relief.
Baptists on Mission have secured a $3 million grant from the North Carolina government for rebuilding efforts, complemented by financial support from Send Relief. N.C. Baptists are encouraging donations to continue aiding storm survivors into 2025, while Unzicker expressed confidence in God’s ongoing grace, stating, “I trust that He will continue to do so as long-term rebuild work goes on.”
In summary, Southern Baptists have shown unwavering commitment to alleviating the aftermath of Hurricane Helene through extensive relief and rebuilding efforts. With over 1 million meals provided and numerous recovery jobs completed, the community spirit has fostered faith transformations among survivors. Moving forward, continuous support through financial contributions and volunteer efforts will be crucial in addressing the long-term needs of those affected by the disaster.
Original Source: www.brnow.org
