July 1, 2002
AS ENORMOUS wildfires threatened property and lives in Arizona, Texas Baptist Men worked alongside residents of Eagar, Ariz., to prepare 2,000 meals a day, which were eaten by residents of Show Low and surrounding areas living in an evacuees' camp at a local high school. (Left:Reuters/RNS Photo; Right: John Hall Photo)
FIRED UP FOR SERVICE:
Texas Baptist Men in Arizona
___By John Hall
___Staff Writer
___EAGAR, Ariz.--Under an ominous, smoky sky, Texas Baptist Men are serving meals and rays of hope to aid workers, firefighters and evacuees whose lives have been darkened by the Rodeo-Chideski fire.
___Late last week, a team of 12 men and one woman from across Texas was serving about 2,000 meals a day in support of an aid camp located about 45 miles east of the fire line.
___More than 30,000 people have been evacuated due to the 409,000-acre inferno. According to a U.S. Forest Service spokesman, the fire has incinerated $237 million of timber and it will most likely take 250 to 300 years for the forest to recover from such a traumatic incident.
EVACUEES make makeshift homes in the sports arena of a high school in Eagar, Ariz. (John Hall Photo)
___The fire also has taken an incalculable toll on the people who live and work in its path.
___A Red Cross spokeswoman called the disaster "catastrophic." The organization has labeled the event a category five, the most severe classification.
___Although more than 700 people are sleeping on the football field in the Round Valley High School arena, that number does not begin to tell the story of the countless others who are sleeping in cars, filling every hotel room in the city, pitching tents on the high school grounds or staying with someone in Eagar. The Red Cross has registered 10,023 evacuees since June 19, but many others have not registered.
___The Red Cross attempted to make conditions as hospitable as possible, but the potential loss of a home left many emotionally strained. Refugees quietly gather around televisions, hoping for news about their neighborhoods, some pointing to their house when it flashes across the screen.
___Gray smoke has invaded what would otherwise be clear days and nights, covering the moon and sun much of the time. The smoke has caused a number of people to have respiratory problems--from the fire line to as far away as Albuquerque, N.M. About one-fifth of the people in the evacuees' camp wear surgical masks to protect against smoke inhalation.
___The temporary inhabitants of the high school grounds are unsure when they will be able to return to their homes. Workers are carefully surveying houses for damage before allowing the people to return. Estimates range from eight days to six weeks.
___Amid this dreariness, Texas Baptist Men and other volunteer groups gathered to provide a glimmer of hope and help. Communities surrounding the fire have come to the aid of the refugees, donating food and medical supplies as well as countless volunteer hours.
___Texas Baptist Men is building on that base of support.
___"We're helping people in need," said Robert Thomas of Main Street Baptist Church in Grand Saline. "We're giving a cool glass of water in the name of Jesus. We're feeding those who cannot feed themselves at this point."
___"We're running in conjunction with the school cafeteria," explained Joe Stephens, the team leader from Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa. "Usually, we don't have that. We're sharing the workload, which has made it easier."
___It is not just meals the men are focused on sharing. Their eyes light up at the possibility of sharing the gospel. They believe their presence is a necessary part of a relief effort.
___"I think it's fantastic, not because we're Baptists, but when we work together we influence a lot of people," said Dan Cupp of First Baptist Church of Edgewood. "This may be the only Jesus they see. That's why we have to be very careful in the way we conduct ourselves."
___The men try to give hope to others by simply speaking to them about their situation or explaining why Texas Baptists are there. The response to their effort is overwhelming.
TEXAS BAPTIST MEN volunteers and other workers form a prayer circle. (John Hall Photo)
___Most who receive help from the Texans graciously thank the group, while many ask how they can help or talk with one of the men about Texas Baptist Men's work.
___"I have not been on a team yet that hasn't worked together well," Cupp said. "People from different walks of life can work together. We work in harmony the way the Lord wants us to."
___Although Layce Cochran of First Baptist Church of Gordon was the only female in the group last week, she was viewed as any other team member by the rest of the team and those she served.
___"It is odd being the only girl, but when helping these people, it really doesn't matter," she said.
___Mike Taylor, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church of Springerville, Ariz., where the Texas team stayed, said the Texas Baptists set an example for other Christians in the city.
___"This is great," he said. "When you're in this situation, you feel like you can't do anything. I can look at these men and say, 'This is Christ in action.'"
___The team's message of faith and works struck some hard as they are left with no one to turn to in this time of need. Despite a day of rains June 26, the blaze was only 5 percent contained, according to a U.S. fire official, leaving many to wonder if the firefighters can stop it.
___"We really need to remember 5 percent is better than 0 percent, but 95 percent is still uncontained," said David Gallagher of Lakeside, Ariz. "We have a long way to go."
___There is only one place to turn, according to one evacuee.
___"We're praying it will stop," said Sherry Gould of Fort Laramie, Wyo., who was with her mother when she evacuated Show Low June 22. "The Lord answers prayers, and he can will it. When man fails, God is there."
___Joe Stephens estimated a Texas Baptist relief team will serve meals for six weeks.
___Meanwhile, Texas Baptist Men teams continue to serve in Colorado, where additional wildfires are burning.
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