September 30, 2024
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers were busy in 2022 responding to disasters around the state, nation and world.
From Georgia to Kentucky, Florida to Colorado, and overseas to Poland, they offered help, hope and healing to people impacted by catastrophes.
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief teams began the year with a deployment to Kentucky to assist victims of deadly tornadoes that killed 80 people and leveled entire communities.
After wildfires swept across parts of Colorado, detroying more than 1,000 homes, Georgia Baptist volunteers were sent in to help residents sift through the ashes looking for anything they could salvage.
“It was a tremendous joy to be there with the homeowners and try to give them a little bit of comfort, a little of hope that things will be OK,” said Kemal Joseph of Social Circle, a member of First Baptist Church in Covington.
Dwain Carter, who became director of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief on April 1, described the volunteers who serve in storm zones across the U.S. and beyond as modern-day heroes.
“To drop everything you’re doing on the spur of the moment and rush off to a disaster zone to help hurting people, that makes you a hero," he said. "To leave a comfortable home and a soft bed to go stay in a gymnasium and sleep on a cot so you can assist people in some of the worst moments of their lives, that makes you a hero.”
Chainsaw crews were sent to Pembroke, Ga., in April after a deadly tornado outbreak. They removed downed trees and put tarps on mangled roofs to keep rain out.
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief workers were sent to Poland to help Ukrainian refugees caught up in a humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion of their country.
The team spent most of their time working on housing for the refugees.
“Everybody on this team is trained in multiple disciplines, and they’re willing to do whatever is needed to improve the lives of the refugees,” said Bob Sprinkel, the Georgia Baptist who led the Poland team. “If there’s trash needing to be picked up, they pick up the trash. If there’s construction to be done, they’re doing construction. Whatever is needed, this group can do it. They have the skills, and they have the mindset: ‘Here I am; send me.’ They’re ready to serve Christ wherever and whenever Christ wants them.”
In late summer, volunteers were again called to Kentucky, this time to help survivors of deadly flash floods that left at least 37 people dead.
Hurricane Ian hit Florida in September, with high winds knocking down trees and damaging homes. More than 150 Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers deployed to the Sarasota area with chainsaw crews sawing away trees and clearing debris.
Also in September, Disaster Relief teams again responded within their home state when floods hit Summerville, Ga. Volunteers set up a mobile kitchen at a local church to help feed residents of the flood-ravaged northwest Georgia area. The facility has the capacity to serve 3,000 meals a day.
Additionally, truckloads of bottled water were brought in after floodwater got into Summerville’s water system, forcing a water outage.
More than just physical assistance, Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers also minister to the spiritual needs of the people they help, routinely introducing them to Christ.
Disaster Relief volunteer Chris Fuller said he and his colleagues are always vigilant for people with spiritual needs.
"When people experience the raw power of nature, they can’t help but look to God,” Fuller said. “In times like that when people are feeling helpless, they realize their need for God.”
