How can we help the tornado victims?

There is a real pain in my heart when I see the images of the destruction in Smithville, Tuscaloosa and other places.  After losing my home in Katrina, it brings back the feelings of loss and helplessness that I experienced in those days following August 29, 2005.  I find myself wanting to help but how? From my viewpoint as an associational employee and as one who lost everything, let me share some ideas.

On Sunday, May 1, 2011, Gulf Coast Baptist Assocation churches will be taking a special offering that wil be divided between the Monroe Baptist Association (where Smithville is located) and the association in Tuscaloosa.  As one who directed relief teams after Katrina, I can testify that it was better for someone to give GCBA a check to use to aid victims than it was to drive up with a load of clothes or shoes.  It caused us to stop what we were doing and unload or find someone to unload the truck.  We also had to find a place to put whatever was donated.  We also have to be careful when donating "stuff" that we do not get the idea that since a person has nothing, they will accept anything (no matter how soiled, tore or in bad condition.)  Let's all dig deeply to give to this offering.  Others did for us six years ago.

What can we do physically to help?  You may want to go to the areas and help.  I want to go but there is a right way and wrong way to do it.  On the next few days, law enforcement and fire departments will be doing search and rescue.  They are trained to do that.  They do not need well meaning folks in their way.  You might say, " We can go cut trees or do clean up."  Rest assured our state Baptist Disaster Relief teams are assessing the needs and preparing to mobilize teams to work.  A lesson learned from Katrina was that uninvited and unannounced teams caused more difficulty for the mobilized DR teams and the people coordinating them.  They must be ready to feed and sleep the teams that are mobilized.  Arriving uninvited adds to their burden.  Trust me.  I know this for a fact.

So, how can you best help?  First, pray for the surviving victims and the families of those who died in this tragedy. Remember to pray for those doing search and rescue, those coordinating relief efforts and teams that have already been called up to work. Second, encourage your church to take the special offering Sunday morning and get it to the GCBA office on Monday so we can get the money to those in need.  Third, be ready to go when called upon by our state Disaster Relief team.