October 1, 2026
ST. JAMES, Jamaica — March concludes a long season of hurricane relief in Jamaica for the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief team.
On October 28, 2025, Hurricane Melissa scarred Jamaica with catastrophic winds and torrential rain, making landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. It will forever be known as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded to hit the island.
Despite the widespread devastation, residents immediately began picking up the pieces and rebuilding. Florida Baptists were among the first on the scene, offering a helping hand. By Nov. 1, Florida Baptists were already on the ground assessing damage and making long-term relief plans.
In total, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief served 15 weeks on the island, deploying more than 150 volunteers in smaller teams to meet the unique needs of the response. David Coggins, FBDR director, shared some of the logistical differences compared to typical disaster responses.
Many of the churches serve as central hubs for their communities, giving teams opportunities to serve and minister alongside local believers each day.
“Helping the church gave the community hope,” said Matt Stickel, Send Relief coordinator. “The church is very important to these communities, and assisting pastors with their buildings freed them to focus on their congregations.”
The overall effort included disaster relief teams from several states, with Florida and Tennessee taking the lead as established partners in the Caribbean. Send Relief helped coordinate the efforts by assigning Matt and Sue Stickel as coordinators for the cooperative response.
Over the multi-month effort, 24 properties were rebuilt or restored, including 11 churches, four schools, eight homes, and one camp. The primary focus was roofing—repairing or completely replacing damaged roofs.
“The cooperative effort between different states worked well. Every team brought its own unique skills and strengths,” Stickel said. “It was truly amazing to see God bring them all together to accomplish the work.”
Stickel also shared comments from Kenroy Wilson, pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Jamaica, expressing his gratitude for the teams who helped restore his church.
"On behalf of the leadership and congregation of the Salter’s Hill Circuit of Baptist Churches," Wilson wrote, "I wish to express our deepest gratitude for the partnership extended to us through the Florida and Tennessee Baptist family. As you are aware, our circuit suffered severe damage as a result of Hurricane Melissa."
Months after one of the worst storms in Jamaica’s history, Pastor Wilson’s letter reflects the lasting impact of Florida Baptist Disaster Relief teams.
Through the faithful giving of Florida Baptist churches to the Cooperative Program, FBDR continues to make a difference in Florida and around the world—bringing hope to communities in their greatest times of need.
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This story appeared on flbaptist.org.
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