Texas Baptist volunteers continue ministry to hurricane victims in Grenada_101804

Posted: 10/15/04

Texas Baptist volunteers continue
ministry to hurricane victims in Grenada

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

ST. GEORGE'S, Grenada–Texas Baptist Men's disaster relief ministry may be nearing its end in Florida, but it is in full swing on the island of Grenada.

Working with Victim Relief Ministries, Texas Baptist Men volunteers are cooking meals with turkey fryers at 10 churches across Grenada. The plan is for those sites to draw people who are seeking food. Victim relief chaplains and counselors will then be available to help as needed.

Eventually, nearly 40 workers will train residents to use the fryers so they can provide the meals. Residents also will be able to use the food Victim Relief Ministries shipped to Grenada.

Larry Burks (left) of First Baptist Church in Plano and Gene Grounds, director of Victim Relief Ministries, offer Christian compassion to a girl at Grand Anse Baptist Church in St. George's, Grenada. (Rex Campbell Photo)

Hurricane Ivan damaged 90 percent of the buildings on the Caribbean island, including two Baptist churches that lost their roofs. The kitchen and pastor's office in one of those churches was destroyed as well.

The needs remain great, said Jason Smith, a chaplain from Lake Pointe Baptist Church in Rockwall. Grenadines devoured 300 meals in less than 20 minutes.

Paul Newton, pastor of Glorious Church in Grenada, said Grenadines are thankful for the much-needed assistance that is helping people across the island.

“We are very grateful,” he said. “It will assist both the church members and people in the community who don't have food. One of the things that has happened, though the food has been coming in, the distribution of it has been slow.”

Because the Texans' ministry is reaching such a broad audience, Vonnia James of the Grenada Baptist Association hopes many people will come to know Christ as Savior through this effort.

Volunteers are meeting needs and sharing Christ's love, he said.

“I see this as big evangelism,” he said. “We will get some people to talk and share the gospel in a time when they need it.”

Albert Fuller of First Baptist Church in Plano said he is in Grenada in hopes of helping hurting people while strengthening local congregations.

“We believe in God and trust him,” Fuller said. “Ivan came through here, and we're here to care for his people.”

For more information, visit www.helpgrenada.com.

Rex Campbell of Texas Baptist Communications contributed to this article.