Most of Texas continues to suffer from extreme drought, and Texas Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers have provided water and meals to firefighters who have battled resulting wildfires.
Now, TBM disaster relief is responding to floods that have ravaged much of eastern Kentucky and parts of Missouri.
“Whether it’s due to wildfires in Texas or flooded homes in Kentucky and St. Louis, people are hurting in many places today,” said Mickey Lenamon, TBM executive director and CEO.
“TBM volunteers are seeking to share God’s love in these difficult situations by meeting needs and offering encouragement. Please be in prayer for TBM teams as they serve, as well as for those who have been impacted by these terrible situations.”
In late June and early July, TBM offered meals to firefighters and other emergency personnel who responded to the Dempsey Fire, a wildfire in Palo Pinto County that consumed nearly 11,600 acres.
In the weeks that followed, TBM supplied bottled water to firefighters and first responders in multiple locations around the state, including those who served after a grass fire damaged more than two dozen homes in Balch Springs.
Last week alone, TBM distributed 9,000 bottles of water to Texas firefighters.
In recent days, floods in Kentucky claimed at least 37 lives and displaced hundreds of families. A deluge in the St. Louis, Mo., area caused severe flash flooding in that area.
As of Aug. 3, a laundry unit from Parker Baptist Association and several TBM volunteer chaplains were en route to eastern Kentucky, and a flood recovery team was preparing to leave for St. Louis.
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Additional flood recovery, food service, shower/laundry, incident management and electrical support teams will follow in the near future, TBM Disaster Relief Director David Wells reported.
Southern Baptist disaster relief teams from Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, George and Alabama also are serving in Kentucky alongside Kentucky Baptist volunteers.
To date, TBM volunteers have responded to more disasters this year than in all of 2021.
Wells asked concerned Texas Baptists to spend at least five minutes praying for TBM volunteers and those whose lives have been affected by disaster and another five minutes encouraging other Christians to pray.
“Pray for the people who have been impacted, as well as for TBM volunteers’ strength, health and openness to God’s leading,” he said.
“The Bible tells us wherever two or more are gathered in God’s name, he is there, as well. We’ve seen prayer work time and again in the field.”
To support TBM disaster relief ministries financially, send a check designated for disaster relief to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Dr., Dallas, TX 75227 or click here to give online.
With additional reporting by John Hall of TBM.
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