In Focus: Disaster relief shares hope of Christ

Consider the case of Geeta Ramsingh of Philadelphia:

It was her fortune, or misfortune as the case may be, to ride on a Caribbean Airlines flight from JFK Airport in New York to Georgetown, Guyana. The plane slid on the runway on landing, and she was one of the last off the plane. As she was making her exit, a man mistakenly jumped on her back and knocked her to the ground. She had bruised knees but otherwise seemed fine. When she got to her feet, no one showed up to rescue her except a taxi cab driver who charged her $20 to give her a ride to the airport terminal. She said she had to pay, because she needed help in this emergency. I think most people would agree that is simply wrong.

Let me tell you a better story:

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Alabama and visit with Texas Baptist volunteers who were responding to the needs left after tornados ripped through Tuscaloosa. The week before, Texas Baptist volunteers traveled to Joplin, Mo., doing the same type of work. Over the last weeks and months, Texas Baptists have been involved in meeting countless needs in the wake of emergencies and disasters.

Texas Baptists continue to meet needs in Haiti and Japan. In Haiti, Texas Baptists are working to provide housing for the thousands still without shelter. Water is a continuing need that must be met. In Japan, there is an opportunity to build community centers. This could open the way for churches in a nation that has a very small minority of Christians.

The Baptist General Convention of Texas works with wonderful partners in meeting the challenges of disaster response and relief. Our partnership with Texas Baptist Men is essential as we work together. They literally are the experts in the field, leading the way in initial response. We work with churches, associations, institutions and other partners, sharing the hope of Christ to those devastated by disaster.

The common denominator in all of this is the Baptist people of Texas. No one church or organization can do all of it alone. We are much more effective as we work together. So much more can be done as efforts are compounded through cooperation.

Why are so many Texas Baptists involved in so many ways?

The Baptists of Texas serve because it is the way they show their love of the Lord through service to others. It is a way to share the hope of Christ with people who need that hope. Oh, and we don't jump on their backs or charge them a thing.

Thank you, Texas Baptists, for your faithfulness in meeting needs in Joplin, Tuscaloosa, Haiti, Japan and so many other places in our world where there is need. Thank you for your faithfulness as you meet the disasters in the future. Thank you for sharing the hope of Christ with a world in need.

?–Steve Vernon is associate executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board.