October 1, 2024
SUWANEE, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s response to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene is comprehensive, according to chief operating officer David Melber. “We want to make sure we do not miss any church that needs our help,” he told staff in a call on Monday.
The response will run along two tracks, Melber said. Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief will “do what they do best,” he said, and focus on coordinating feeding, recovery and clean-up. GBDR has already partnered with Disaster Relief organizations from other states and will have feeding stations in various parts of the region.
The stations will provide a total of up to 40,000 meals per day from five sites that will be functional over the next few days. A mobile kitchen operated by Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief is already operational at Fleming Baptist Church in Augusta.
At the same time, Mission Georgia will focus on helping affected churches and church leaders so that they in turn can meet the needs in their communities. “The most effective ministry is local,” Melber said, “through those at the local church.”
W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the GBMB, who spent the day traveling to various relief sites to offer support and encouragement, said, "This effort is designed to help those who are helping others."
To help them do that, he continued, the GBMB will have assessors onsite to coordinate with local churches and pastors. Mission Georgia will evaluate any damage to the churches or ministers’ homes, help them determine the extent of insurance claims, and in many cases assist with paying a portion of their deductible.
The GBMB will also work with Georgia Baptist churches to make sure they have the resources to meet critical needs in their communities. As long as funds are available, the GBMB will work to support local efforts.
Assessors will also determine a church’s need for long-term support, with the goal of finding partner churches to come alongside. “We can match churches to serve other churches,” Melber said, “not just for immediate support but for longer term help. We’re looking at three weeks, three months, or more.”
Melber said the goal is to make sure that every church is supported in its time of need. “We already have churches that know a pastor in the affected area and can partner with them,” he said. “But we want to make sure no church feels left behind.”
In addition to church-to-church partnerships, the GBMB will facilitate relationships between associations.
Melber stressed that 100% of any donations to GBDR or Mission Georgia will go to the relief effort. “Because Georgia Baptists have faithfully contributed to the Cooperative Program,” he said, “the structure to manage the response is already in place.”
"When faced with a tragedy of this magnitude, Georgia Baptist churches should know that they do not stand alone," said Hammond. "In the worst times, Georgia Baptists are at their best as they come alongside their brothers and sisters in love and support. The love that Christ has shown us compels us to act when we see our brothers and sisters in need."
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Those wishing to donate can go the following links:
To give to Mission Georgia, select the "give" option at the top of missiongeorgia.org.
To donate to GBDR, click on this link.
