Disaster Relief

08 10 2026

Northwest wildfires continue generating need, response

Jason McNair Disaster Relief, Sharing Christ disaster relief, evangelism, idaho, missions, southern baptists

Historic wildfires have continued throughout Oregon and Washington, extending past the border into Idaho. Photo by Zac Minton, NWBC

By Scott Barkley, posted August 6, 2026 in Disaster Relief, National News

The following article was republished with permission from the August 6 edition of Baptist Press. Please continue to pray for those affected by fires in the Northwest, along with those churches and communities impacted by wildfire here in Utah and Idaho. SBC DR teams from Utah have been activated for response for flood recovery in Beaver, UT August 9-15 and Colorado to aid with Personal Property Recovery following the Aspen Fire at the end of the month.

SPOKANE, Wash. (BP) – Churches and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams are continuing to respond amid historic wildfires in the Northwest.

A complete response strategy won’t come until the fires are out, and that won’t be for a while. Meanwhile, churches are joining others to help replace needed items. Valleypoint Church in Spokane is providing hygiene kits. The Rock Church is helping gather and deliver groceries. Grace Christian Fellowship opened up space for 30 displaced adult residents of a memory care center.

Those actions are occurring in one of the least religious areas of the country, said Northwest Baptist Convention Evangelism Specialist Zac Minton. Spiritual questions are bound to come up.

“Spokane is a very family-oriented community, but less than 6 percent attend an evangelical church,” he noted. “This is a very giving and caring community, and a lot of people are donating goods.”

In terms of acreage, the Autumn Lane, Old Trails and Fairview fires don’t stand out among others in the region. Their proximity to Spokane, though, has already placed them among the most destructive in state history in terms of structures lost.

Minton was an electrician dispatched to New Orleans after Katrina to pull electric meters. He helped after an EF4 tornado struck Moore, Okla., in 2010. This devastation is different.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. “People’s lives are destroyed. But we’re trying to let them know that in the midst of the chaos, there is hope, and His name is Jesus.”

Of Oregon’s 2 million acres lost to fires this year, 1.81 million have come through the 32 currently burning.

Tens of thousands of acres have burned in Washington, headlined by those in Spokane County. Two deaths have been blamed on the fires, including that of a man who wrecked his ATV while attempting to fight the flames near his property. An arson suspect is in custody.

Dave and Pat Crates have retained their joy despite losing their home, said Zac Minton, shown with the couple. The Crates are members of North Addison Baptist Church, pastored by Matt Tremblay, who was discipled at The Rock Church.

Minton arrived in Spokane 12 years ago as a church planter. He helped start three congregations, including the one he would serve as pastor, The Rock Church. A little over three years ago, he accepted an offer to serve as the state’s evangelism director, but remained in Spokane.

The current fires have displaced more than 65,000 people, said Minton, whose 3 Circles tattoo on his wrist always stands at the ready for a spiritual conversation. City leaders revealed yesterday, he added, that evacuation orders for some areas won’t be lifted for several days.

Disaster Relief personnel are on alert and working alongside churches, said Gary Floyd, state director. “There’s been at least one church burned, maybe more,” he said. “This fire is historical.”

Like Minton, he said the two biggest needs are prayer and money.

“They are effective,” said Floyd. “Money allows us to apply it where needed. People are praying for us around the world and saying they want to send teams. It’s a profound example of why cooperating and connecting around the Gospel is so important.”

He expects the cleanup could take up to five years. Part of the need will be more churches.

“We’re going to have people coming to Christ, and we’ll need others to build relationships with them. It will take years for people to process the loss on multiple levels,” he said.

Minton knows of three families in his church who lost their homes. One pastor and his family had to evacuate and sleep at the church.

Everyone is helping as they can, like Danny Morris, The Rock’s current pastor. He responded to Minton’s 6:30 a.m. call for someone to make a grocery run for the memory care patients at Grace Christian Fellowship.

Local pastors will continue to pray at 10:02 a.m. each day, Minton said.

“We’re praying for God to raise people up to come and do this ministry with us. Prayer is how I got here.”

12 08 2025

Disaster Relief in UI seeking new leadership in 2026

Jason McNair Disaster Relief cooperative program, disaster relief, evangelism, idaho, missions, southern baptists, utah

In October, a team of Disaster Relief volunteers served a meal at Central Park Community Center in Salt Lake City to raise awareness of their ministry and their availability during crisis events.

By UI Connections

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are the first on the scene and the last to leave.

“When you’ve seen a disaster on the news in the last 50 years, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers were already on the scene – and they remained long after news cameras left town,” according to SendRelief.org website. “As the third-largest disaster response group in the nation, this network of state-based volunteer teams do more than just clean up; they bring the healing of Christ to those whose lives have been shattered.”

That’s why Don Dana of Canyons Church in Salt Lake City says he got involved more than 20 years ago.

“I saw the opportunity to be part of something we could do,” Dana told UI Connections. “I think Jesus was working on me, telling me to go. He gave me the opportunity to help people, people that were hurting.”

His first call-out was after a hurricane in Alabama in 2004. Two years later he helped survivors from Hurricane Katrina who’d been relocated to Camp Williams, south of Bluffdale, Utah.

Dana, like most Utah-Idaho trained DR volunteers, has aged to the point he is unable to respond to activation requests, he said.

“The hardest thing is not being able to go on activations,” Dana said. “It’s so fulfilling, so rewarding, to help people, to do God’s work.”

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is about extending “help, hope and healing” – to use their catchall phrase – to people whose lives have been upended because of an earthquake, tornado, hurricane, flooding, wildfire and volcanic eruptions, to list several natural disasters.

Trained DR volunteers serve in seven major areas:

– Mass feeding
– Chain saw
– Mud-out
– Shower/laundry
– Childcare
– Chaplaincy
– Security

Each area includes a variety of roles. At the bottom of their national website – sendrelief.org – there are five short videos on the mass feeding ministries that show the diversity of volunteers needed. Other ministry areas require similar expertise or simply a willingness to serve. Handymen, for example, are needed to keep the equipment in good repair and to quickly restore a piece of malfunctioning equipment to good working order. Organized and administrative volunteers are essential. Others serve by preparing meals, washing pots and pans, or ministering directly to hurting people.

Training – both in-person and online – is required at every level to maintain maximum safety and cohesion of what has, over the last 50-plus years, become almost military in its efficiency and chain of command.

Utah and Idaho DR volunteers are in Region 1, which basically includes states from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

But “Utah is very slim in volunteers,” Dana said, though “there is a remnant in St. George,” adding that he didn’t know of any training planned for either state.

“We need some younger folks,” Dana said. Many of the volunteers are of retirement age, and few younger people are stepping in to replace those who can no longer respond to activations.

Russel Hohmann is to retire in 2026 as Director of Utah-Idaho Disaster Relief. He started serving on DR teams in 2004, along with Dana in Alabama, but in 2007, the ministry heightened his interest.

The Crandall Mine disaster near Helper, Utah, occurred August 6, 2007, and a Disaster Relief team, including Hohmann, deployed to provide comfort for emergency responders and meals for those seeking to rescue the six trapped miners.

Several rescue workers were killed during the response, and that loss impressed on Hohmann and others the importance of their work. He became determined to continue this important work.

Earlier this year, Hohmann went to Live Oak, Florida, to serve as part of the assessment team after Hurricane Helene, he wrote in his report to the UISBC this October.

Hohmann also reported that a feeding team assisted in February after the greater Los Angeles fires. The following month, from March 23-30, “We had 18 trained volunteers which included feeding, personal property recovery and chaplains respond to the California LA fires.” “One salvation and many contacts and conversations happened, sharing the love of Christ,” he wrote.

In a recent interview, Hohmann said “When you serve, you expect to bless people, but you end up getting blessed as much, or more, than they do”. Even though he is stepping down from the director role in early 2026, he has no plans to leave Disaster Relief ministry. He intends to continue serving on future activations and call-outs.

To become a Disaster Relief volunteer, learn when and where training opportunities are set or to make a year-end donation to the ministry, please visit our website.

By UI Connections

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are the first on the scene and the last to leave.

That’s why Don Dana of Canyons Church in Salt Lake City says he got involved more than 20 years ago.

His first call-out was after a hurricane in Alabama in 2004. Two years later he helped survivors from Hurricane Katrina who’d been relocated to Camp Williams, south of Bluffdale, Utah.

Dana, like most Utah-Idaho trained DR volunteers, has aged to the point he is unable to respond to activation requests, he said.

“The hardest thing is not being able to go on activations,” Dana said. “It’s so fulfilling, so rewarding, to help people, to do God’s work.”

Trained DR volunteers serve in seven major areas:

– Mass feeding
– Chain saw
– Mud-out
– Shower/laundry
– Childcare
– Chaplaincy
– Security

Utah and Idaho DR volunteers are in Region 1, which basically includes states from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean.

But “Utah is very slim in volunteers,” Dana said, though “there is a remnant in St. George,” adding that he didn’t know of any training planned for either state.

“We need some younger folks,” Dana said. Many of the volunteers are of retirement age, and few younger people are stepping in to replace those who can no longer respond to activations.

Russel Hohmann is to retire in 2026 as Director of Utah-Idaho Disaster Relief. He started serving on DR teams in 2004, along with Dana in Alabama, but in 2007, the ministry heightened his interest.

Several rescue workers were killed during the response, and that loss impressed on Hohmann and others the importance of their work. He became determined to continue this important work.

Earlier this year, Hohmann went to Live Oak, Florida, to serve as part of the assessment team after Hurricane Helene, he wrote in his report to the UISBC this October.

To become a Disaster Relief volunteer, learn when and where training opportunities are set or to make a year-end donation to the ministry, please visit our website.

08 08 2025

FIRST-PERSON: Two years after the Maui fires

Jason McNair Article, Disaster Relief, Missionaries disaster relief, evangelism, Hawaii, HPBC, missions, southern baptists

It has been two years since the devastating fires ravaged the homes and hillsides of Lahaina and surrounding communities. UISBC Disaster Relief Volunteers deployed multiple teams in the wake of the cleanup. Now, local Southern Baptist Leaders are sowing seeds of long-term ministry that will invest in the communities impacted. Hear from HPBC Executive Director this extraordinary First Person perspective on the ongoing work of taking the gospel to hurting people. This article was published August 7, 2025 on Baptist Press. Used by permission.

By Craig Webb

Editor’s note: Craig Webb is executive director-treasurer of the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention.

Maui, HI-Tomorrow (August 8), we mark the second anniversary of the devastating Maui fires that forever changed the landscape of Lahaina and surrounding communities, displacing thousands of families with fewer than 50 homes rebuilt from the nearly 2,000 destroyed. In the midst of this ongoing struggle, what began as an unthinkable tragedy became the backdrop for an extraordinary ministry of hope and healing.

Building on the foundation laid by Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief in the first months after the fires, the Maui Fire Caring Ministry, led by Pete and Donna Beal, took the extraordinary step of contacting 748 fire survivors over 14 months. This systematic follow-up ministry communicated the love of Christ, shared the Gospel message, distributed Bibles and provided practical assistance while building lasting relationships that continue today.

Following historic fires that devastated Lahaina, Hawaii, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from across the United States traveled to Maui to help homeowners sort through the ash in the hopes of finding valuables that might have survived the flames. File photo from the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers mobilized under the leadership of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief co-directors John and Gay Williams. Send Relief, the Southern Baptist Convention’s compassion ministry arm, played a vital early role by providing personal protection equipment and supplies for the dangerous ash-out work and by raising awareness about Maui’s ongoing recovery needs among the broader Southern Baptist family.

The initial response of Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief was emotional and spiritual care by trained chaplains, followed by coordination of housing for first responders and management of volunteers at a Kihei facility. What followed was the critical “ash-out” process that began in September 2023, where volunteers carefully searched through the ashes, helping homeowners find their belongings in what was left of their homes. By December 22, 2023, Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief had welcomed more than 400 volunteers from 21 states who helped more than 500 families, providing immediate relief, hope and Gospel witness during the critical months following the disaster.

A gap that needed filling

As the initial disaster relief efforts concluded, John and Gay Williams recognized a significant gap that needed filling. They possessed a comprehensive list of more than 650 fire survivors whom volunteer teams had personally served. Unlike typical disaster relief situations, where much smaller lists are passed to local pastors for follow-up ministry, this volume presented a challenge that would be overwhelming for any single church to handle effectively.

“We finished with over 650 names, and we didn’t want to give up the relationships that had been built through daily contact with families sifting through the ashes of what was left of their homes,” Gay Williams explained.

The solution demonstrates God’s hand of providence. Pete and Donna Beal, members of Kahului Baptist Church who had returned to Maui eight years ago in retirement after mainland ministry and business endeavors, sensed God’s direction to lead the ministry that would follow up with each of these precious souls.

Beyond the honeymoon phase

Pete and Donna positioned their Maui Fire Caring Ministry during what disaster experts call the “disillusionment phase” of recovery –the critical period when initial community support wanes and survivors face mounting anxiety about ending assistance programs. Many families were receiving concerning notices or heard rumors about FEMA housing termination, creating an opportunity for both practical assistance and spiritual ministry.

Working with 15 trained volunteers from Southern Baptist churches across Maui, the Beals developed a comprehensive approach that combined systematic phone contact with personal visits for families who expressed a need. Knowing that every fire survivor had a story about August 8, 2023, their leading question was, “Where were you when the fire happened?”

“One woman told us with tears that this was the first time anyone had asked her about that day,” Donna Beal shared. “She said it was cathartic because all her friends were also fire survivors, so they never talked about what happened.”

Gospel-centered impact

While the ministry provided practical financial assistance to families in need, Pete and Donna, along with the volunteers, never lost sight of their primary purpose: sharing the Gospel. At every personal meeting, they explained why the Bible they offered wasn’t just another book, but God’s living Word with the power to transform lives.

“Even when English wasn’t their first language, I could see God grabbing their hearts when Pete spoke,” Donna said. “We’d tell them, ‘If the Lord grabs your heart to come to church, these are the churches you can come to.’”

The ministry distributed approximately 200 Bibles in English, Spanish and Tagalog, offering prayer to every family, with very few declining.

Faithful service, lasting connections

Over 14 months, the Maui Fire Caring Ministry achieved something extraordinary: they contacted every single fire survivor on the original list from John and Gay Williams, plus additional survivors who came to their attention – 748 people in total.

Among the most encouraging outcomes are the ongoing church connections established. One family attended last year’s Maui County Baptist Association annual meeting to personally thank donors and was given the opportunity to share beautiful stories of hope. A single mother with a hearing-impaired autistic daughter began attending Kahului Baptist Church after connecting with the ministry.

Building on strong foundations

Gay Williams, with disaster relief experience across multiple states, notes: “I don’t know that anywhere else they followed up to contact every person that disaster relief ministered to. This may be the first time this type of systematic follow-up has been attempted.”

Every disaster response is unique, and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams consistently demonstrate excellence in providing practical assistance and Gospel-centered care. The Maui experience highlights how systematic long-term follow-up, when combined with multi-church partnerships, trauma-informed volunteer training and careful stewardship can extend ministry impact well beyond the initial response phase.

Standing firm, contending together

On July 31 of this year, the Maui Fire Caring Ministry formally concluded after 14 months of faithful service. The ministry’s impact continues through the ongoing church connections established, the Gospel conversations that took place in homes across Maui, and the practical assistance that demonstrated Christ’s love during families’ darkest hours.

This ministry represents what can be accomplished when God’s people are “standing firm in one spirit, in one accord, contending together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:27, CSB). Hawaii Pacific Baptist Disaster Relief, Send Relief, the Hawaii Pacific Baptist Convention and the Maui County Baptist Association partnered seamlessly to serve fire survivors. The financial support came from across the Southern Baptist Convention – individuals, churches and state conventions who gave generously. We are deeply grateful for every prayer offered, every dollar donated and every volunteer who served.

The long road ahead for Maui

As we mark this second anniversary, the physical rebuilding of Lahaina continues to face significant challenges. According to initial damage assessments by the University of Hawaii’s Pacific Disaster Center, the Lahaina fire destroyed or damaged 2,207 structures across 2,170 acres, with reconstruction costs estimated at $5.5 billion. Despite infrastructure restoration and over $3 billion in federal commitments, fewer than 50 homes have been rebuilt from the nearly 2,000 residential structures destroyed.

Recent University of Hawaii survey data confirms that approximately 90 percent of fire survivors remain displaced from their homes, with housing costs 50-60 percent higher than pre-fire levels. While the recent allocation of $1.6 billion in federal housing assistance provides new hope, the massive scale of destruction and lengthy permitting processes suggest that complete recovery will extend 5-10 years. These ongoing challenges underscore why sustained spiritual ministry and church connections remain so vital for families navigating this prolonged journey of rebuilding their lives.

On behalf of all those blessed by these ministries, thank you for your prayers and financial support, and please continue praying as Maui’s long road to recovery continues.

01 08 2025

Utah team helps NC Baptist efforts to get families back in their homes

Jason McNair Disaster Relief, Missionaries disaster relief, evangelism, missions, southern baptists, utah

By Karen L. Willoughby from Baptist Press

Utah tradesmen made the trip to Hurricane Helene devastated areas of western North Carolina in November

CANTON, N.C. – A team of six skilled tradesmen from Utah on mission in mountainous North Carolina worked eight-plus hours a day for five days last month, tearing out damaged pipes and putting new plumbing in three houses, plus a variety of electrical work on four others.

The weather had turned wintry, with temperatures dropping to the low teens and highs not above freezing the first week of December. The Utah team included two plumbers, licensed so their work could pass inspection.

“We have four main houses we’re trying to get the people into by Christmas,” block mason Steve Sidwell told Baptist Press. He was including North Carolina Baptists on Mission (NCBOM) in his “We.”

Sidwell and three others are members at First Baptist Church in Pleasant Grove, Utah, an hour south of Salt Lake City.

“We’re also helping another family getting into an apartment above their garage,” Sidwell continued. “We’re just doing what God’s called us to do.

“You can feel their pain,” the block mason added, referring to devastated residents of flooded homes under renovation. “I think we give them a sense that it will be OK. Us being here tells them, ‘The West is thinking of you. Our hearts hurt for you.’”

The Utah team and about 15 volunteers from North Carolina were part of the week’s transitioning efforts – from Phase 1’s “Recovery” to Phase 2’s “Essential Rapid Repairs” – at the North Carolina Baptists on Mission’s Canton Rebuild site.

Mike Brooks, who owns a commercial plumbing business in Salt Lake City, spent a week in freezing temperatures repairing plumbing in storm-damaged homes

To start at the beginning, Hurricane Helene arrived in western North Carolina on Sept. 27. By Oct. 2, NCBOM had set up nine disaster response sites. That number grew to 17.

“Through our recovery operation and mass feeding, we utilized 11,000 volunteers through Dec. 1,” Tom Beam told Baptist Press. He’s NC’BOM’s disaster response director. “Individuals averaged three to five days per person of service, and together that totaled 400,000 hours.”

Recovery included mucking out houses of whatever floodwaters deposited or destroyed; cutting down trees and clearing land; tearing out walls to the bare studs, spraying to stop mold, and tarping roofs to keep out adverse weather.

Today, in many places in western North Carolina, massive piles of debris have been neatly gathered on vacant land. The rivers and creeks are back within their banks. NCBOM Rebuild sites have made provision for volunteers to stay for a week or more, with skilled tradesmen especially needed at this time.

Sheets caught up in trees’ tall branches are one indication remaining of how high the Pigeon River reached in the Canton area, about 20 miles southwest of Asheville, N.C.

Sidwell, who has worked in construction for 40 years, said he was struck first by the height of the water during the flooding, and then, “How much damage is done to each home. Where we’re working right now, one side of the foundation is completely knocked over. Did trees hit the foundation or was it the strength of the water, and what were the people thinking as this all happened?”

With the move from Recovery to Essential Rapid Repairs, the number of worksites in North Carolina has been trimmed to eight.

Many homes in North Carolina are still uninhabitable after floodwaters washed away foundations

“Some sites still actively do Recovery, but all sites are transitioning to Repairs,” Canton Rebuild Site Coordinator Michael Maragelis told Baptist Press. “Four of the eight sites are still officially Recovery, but all eight should begin Repairs next week.”

Essential Rapid Repairs consists first of plumbing and electricity, which requires approval by city or county inspectors so it must be done by licensed tradesmen before being covered up by walls and flooring.

Mike Brooks, who owns a commercial plumbing business in Salt Lake City, brought one of his employees, Raul Lopez.

“All the plumbing was mostly destroyed so we had to redo everything,” Brooks said. “It’s very time-consuming: pulling out all the old stuff and laying new water and sewer drains.”

Plumbing work is wet work in miserable wintry conditions, though Brooks didn’t complain. He had come to North Carolina, he said, out of appreciation for the North Carolinians he had met in Houston, Texas, doing recovery in 2008 after Hurricane Ike.

“I told myself one day I’m going to go to North Carolina and help them,” Brooks said. “The Holy Spirit said this is the time to go.

“It’s always good to work alongside my Christian brothers and sisters. Developing relationships with the homeowners is basically our priority: the sharing of Jesus Christ and doing the work God provides.”

Once electricity and plumbing are approved by county inspectors, Essential Rapid Repairs (ERR) volunteers lay a wood subfloor, hang drywall, install a refrigerator, stove, sink and cabinets, complete the bathroom and hang bedroom doors.

North Carolina Baptists on Mission plans recovery for about 1,000 homes. Once all the houses are livable, NCBOM will be back to finish the work – Phase 3’s “Rebuild” – by painting interior walls and laying the final flooring.

The entire project is expected to take three to four years, Beam said.

“Every day that we have volunteers here is a day closer to getting homeowners back in their home,” Maragelis said.

The Utah team originally planned to help in North Carolina in October but scheduling challenges intervened.

“When we arrived Nov. 30 it was freezing cold temperatures,” Steve’s wife, Chauna Sidwell said. “The [Disaster Relief] showers froze and broke. If we weren’t here they wouldn’t have had showers. But we had two plumbers!

“That made us feel that God wanted us here at this time,” she continued. “It was God’s timing,” her husband added.

The Utah team, familiar with but not licensed to do electrical, handled their work under the supervision of the onsite North Carolina licensed electricians. With the experienced Utah team onsite, one licensed electrician who was ill was able to leave.

“We prayed for him,” Chauna Sidwell said. “And we thanked God He brought us here this specific week.”

“I wish we could stay longer,” said construction worker Justin Nielson. “There’s so much work to be done.”

In Canton, the Crestview Baptist Church distribution site offered its 5-acre property to share with NCBOM, which put up a bunkhouse where 26 men can sleep inside a 20-foot storage container; women sleep in the church. There’s the Disaster Relief shower/laundry trailer, a tool shed, meals prepared for volunteers, plus evening devotions and fellowship.

“One of the best things is knowing there are many people from all over the United States willing to serve in short term U.S. missions,” Chauna Sidwell said. “It’s encouraging to meet other like-minded people and to be able to listen to others and share stories with others.”

Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.

Article originally appeared in the December 9^th issue of Baptist Press. Used by permission.

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10 04 2024

Utah and Idaho Baptists respond to areas hit hard by Helene

Jason McNair Disaster Relief cooperative program, disaster relief, evangelism, Helene, missions, send relief, southern baptists

Chainsaw team from Three Rivers Association in South Carolina deployed shortly after the waters receded

Draper, UT – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, many Utah Idaho Baptists are asking questions about how they can pray, support, and provide aid to areas along the southeastern United States that have been directly impacted by the storm. UI Connections has compiled a list of helpful articles that give updated information on work that is happening throughout this area. This list of articles and links to ways you can help will be updated as new information is available. Contact Russel Hohmann, UT/ID Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Director on our website at https://uisbc.org/disaster-relief/ to find out more about how you can help.

Please do your research before giving to any organization that promises to “provide aid” to these areas. There are many fraudulent websites and scammers that seek to take advantage of tragic events by promising to get funds and supplies to the field, yet only provide a small percentage of aid or seek to profit from tragedy. We encourage you to only give to vetted and recognized charitable organizations. The organizations linked on this page have been verified to be legitimate sources where 100% of funds given will go directly to the place it is needed most.

Picture by Travis Kerns, former UISBC Send Salt Lake Missionary and current AMS in South Carolina.

National SendRelief SBC Disaster Relief sets up aid centers across the areas hardest hit by Helene
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/southern-baptist-relief-efforts-deployed-throughout-southeast-in-response-to-historic-helene/

South Carolina
The Yellow-shirt army of volunteers has spread across their state to provide aid in storm ravaged areas. S.C. Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are currently providing shower units, laundry units, feeding units, chainsaw units, incident management, chaplains and damage assessors at locations across South Carolina that were affected by Hurricane Helene. As of Oct. 2, approximately 4,000 meals have been served, according to Sandy Bezjak of the South Carolina Baptist Convention’s SERVE team.

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/south-carolina-baptist-facilities-damaged-yellow-shirt-army-deployed/

Alabama partners with South Carolina to provide aid, more volunteers needed
Alabama Baptists Disaster Relief is spearheading the efforts to bring aid to communities across South Carolina that were in the direct path and impact of Helene. Executive Director, Tony Wolfe has toured his state, and the devastation will be a long recovery. “Pray that God would continue to put it on the hearts of His people to come and serve our neighbors and our neighborhoods for months, 6 to 12 or maybe even 18 months,” Wolfe said. At the end of this linked article is a link to give directly to Alabama DR ministry and their deployment of resources on the ground in that state.

https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/more-volunteers-needed-after-historic-disaster/

North Carolina hit hard by Helene as death toll continues to rise with the flood waters
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/nc-baptists-respond-to-unprecedented-tragedy-in-western-north-carolina/

Tennessee DR train record number of volunteers, many of whom are college students, in response to Helene
https://baptistandreflector.org/dr-trains-400-plus-new-volunteers/

Georgia Baptists survey and deploy across their state in an ALL HANDS ON DECK response
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/georgia-baptist-disaster-relief-coordinating-all-hands-on-deck-response-to-hurricane-helene/

Florida Baptists locally respond to the call along the Gulf Coast and inland
https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/florida-baptists-others-answering-the-call-to-serve-after-helene/

Ministries across the region provide links to give directly to relief efforts providing aid. These ministries have been vetted and 100% of the funds given will go to the areas listed

Utah-Idaho DR ministries being deployed later this month to coordinate work in North Florida
https://uisbc.org/disaster-relief/#Donate
SendRelief National Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Ministries
https://www.sendrelief.org/
North Carolina Baptist Convention Baptist Men
https://baptistsonmission.org/
Providing aid to western Carolinas
https://www.828strong.com/
Travis Kerns, Associational Mission Strategist for Three Rivers Association is updating their associations’ Helene response on their Facebook page. More information is linked on that page.
https://www.facebook.com/threeriversba

09 26 2024

Utah-Idaho Baptists grieve the loss of a dear friend, but celebrate his homegoing

Jason McNair Disaster Relief, Prayer disaster relief, idaho, missions, southern baptists, tribute

By UI Connections Staff

Wade recognized for his years of service by Executive Director, Rob Lee

Draper, UT – In the early morning hours of September 25, 2024, Norman Wade Gayler passed from his earthly body to the loving arms of his Daddy. When the convention staff would gather for prayer, it was always a joy to hear Wade refer to God as his Daddy. This will forever be a special memory shared by the UISBC Convention staff as we mourn the passing of a wonderfully imperfect servant that lived every day in complete gratitude for the redemption he found in Jesus Christ.

Arrangements for remembering the life of Wade are organized through Memorial Redwood Mortuary at 6500 South Redwood Road. Public Viewing will be at 6:00 PM on October 18, 2024. Funeral will be held on the 19th with 1:00 PM viewing, 2:00 PM services, and 3:30 PM interment.

UISBC Executive Director, Rob Lee shared a personal connection with Wade beyond his role on state staff. “Wade was always a servant who would help anyone in need, especially someone impacted by a natural disaster. He understood what it meant to be in need, which motivated him to help others. He was saved while in Texas, serving time for a drug addiction that led to his arrest.” Rob shared with UI Connections.

Wade used his talents to glorify Jesus with his carpentry skills. He loved Disaster Relief Ministries. He served faithfully as a volunteer who became the Salt Lake Baptist Association Disaster Relief director before being tapped to be the State Disaster Relief Director for the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention from June 2005 to September 2011.

Wade partnered with DR leaders across Utah and Idaho to recover and rebuild after many crisis events

The North American Mission Board asked him to assist in many callouts on national and international disasters, including Haiti after the devastating earthquake killed over a quarter of a million people. Wade was instrumental in leading the Disaster Relief leadership from the partner associations in organizing disaster relief ministries to be prepared for any callouts.

Rob stated, “The greatest honor I had for Wade was being able to petition the Utah State Probation Board to clear his record because of all the good he was doing in sharing and living the gospel through his ministry and life. The board approved the request on Wade’s behalf.”

At the time of Wade’s passing, his medical bills were mounting, and the family appreciates any financial help they can get through a GoFundMe account created in Wade’s name. Please assist the family any way you feel led, or just login to the page to read the special tribute to Wade written by his son, Norman “Junior” Gayler.

Funeral Fundraiser by Norman Gayler: Honor a man who helped so many other’s. My dad, Wade Gayler (gofundme.com)

Please keep the Gayler family in your prayers. Wade is no longer in pain and he is smiling a bigger smile than he ever had this side of heaven. He is with his Daddy living the dream and spending every day in paradise for all of eternity.