As wildfires rage, Texas Baptists minister to hurting neighbors

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BASTROP—When Leticia Lybarger learned her house burned to the ground, she was devastated. Her property was uninsured, and she had lost everything her family wasn't able to stash quickly in their vehicles.

"God is good all the time," she said. "When you're down here, he picks you up. When you think you have nothing, you have more than you can imagine."

In seven days, the Texas Forest Service responded to 176 fires affecting more than 126,000 acres statewide. An estimated 1,600 homes were lost to wildfires.

Spicewood Baptist Church in Spicewood has at least five families who have been affected by the fires.

BGCT and Texas Baptist Men disaster ministry efforts are supported by designated gifts. The organizations already have used some of those funds in responding to a series of disasters, including the Japan earthquake, earlier this year.

To give to Texas Baptist Men, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org. To give to the BGCT disaster response, visit www.texasbaptists.org/give.

Churches and individuals who would like to assist people affected by Texas wildfires can contact Texas Baptist disaster response specialist Marla Bearden at (214) 537-7358 or go to www.texasbaptists.org/disaster for more information.

–With additional reporting by Rex Campbell


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