5 Dead, Hundreds of Homes and at Least Two Churches Hit in Alabama Tornado Outbreak March 25
At least five people were killed and hundreds of homes — and at least two churches — were destroyed or damaged when tornadoes struck several Alabama communities on March 25. The deaths occurred in Calhoun County in east Alabama, where Ohatchee, Wellington and nearby communities were struck. Calhoun Baptist Association Director of Missions Roger Willmore […]
First Person: Disaster Relief Helps Meet Immediate Needs
As a team of Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers worked in Center Point to clear a yard following the Jan. 25 tornado that struck the area, a 79-year-old homeowner, Jeff Schatz, spoke to his son on the phone. “There are a bunch of bumblebees in my yard,” he said, describing the yellow hats and jackets […]
Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers Called Out to Serve Once Again Following Hurricane Zeta
Mark Wakefield says Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been working steadily for a long time as hurricane after hurricane has pounded the Southeast, starting with Hurricane Laura relief in Louisiana in August. And now they’re scattered across the state helping people clean up after Hurricane Zeta rolled through. Zeta made landfall Oct. 28, then […]
Hurricane Zeta Update
Hurricane Zeta left a wide swath of damage across Alabama. While it is widespread, the most severe seems to be west of I-65. Teams are working in several counties. We have set up operations in Clarke and Mobile Associations. Many people are taking care of their own and their neighbors’ needs. In all cases, local […]
ABDR Volunteers Deploy to Louisiana After Hurricane Laura
When Robert and Elsie Whittle heard Hurricane Laura was headed right for them, they couldn’t believe it. A tree had already fallen on the back of their home earlier this summer when high winds and tornadoes had torn through their hometown of Leesville, Louisiana. They’d lost their kitchen, and since they didn’t have homeowner’s insurance, […]
Alabama Coast Cleaning Up After Sally
Romar Beach Baptist Church in Orange Beach and Camp Baldwin in Elberta each sustained significant damage as Hurricane Sally made landfall at Gulf Shores in the predawn hours of Sept. 16. Romar Beach Baptist Church suffered extensive damage, inside and out, according to pastor Chris Fowler in a Sept. 17 Facebook post. Windows built to […]
Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Workers in Gulf Shores 2 Days After Hurricane Sally Wreaks Havoc
Just two days after Hurricane Sally made landfall, Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief workers were at First Baptist Church, Gulf Shores, getting ready to dig in. Mark Wakefield, the state’s lead strategist for Disaster Relief, was onsite and surveying the damage to the church, which included flooding and a blown out window in the sanctuary. An […]
Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief Teams, Equipment Deployed to Louisiana Following Hurricane
Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are headed to Leesville, Louisiana, to assist in cleanup efforts following Hurricane Laura. Two ABDR chainsaw teams will work alongside South Carolina Disaster Relief to help in the Leesville area, according to Mark Wakefield, disaster relief strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. Leesville is located in south-central […]
Cahaba Association Disaster Relief Leader Doug Vance Sees God’s Hand in Ministry Role
Doug Vance said every time he stands in someone’s yard with a chainsaw, the person talks about how amazing it is that someone would come all the way there to help them. And every time, Vance — leader of the Cahaba Baptist Association disaster relief team — tells them that’s not the amazing thing. MUCH […]
Churches Damaged in Easter Storms
Lawler Baptist Church, near Dora, and Shoal Creek Baptist Church, Priceville, are two churches with reported damage from today’s Easter storms moving through the state. Lawler Baptist’s building “took a beating” by the storm pounding Walker County, according to Birmingham’s ABC 33/40. Shoal Creek Baptist was struck by lightning mid-day and suffered steeple and roof damage, according […]