Church Responds During Moment of Need!

From: WRAL News

{RALEIGH, N.C. — Highland Baptist Church in Raleigh is choosing to remember the deadly tornadoes that slammed the state one year ago by celebrating their disaster relief efforts.

"It's a celebration of how God used this church to respond immediately (to tornado victims)," said Lin Honeycutt, a member of the church and a volunteer with the North Carolina Baptist Men.

The Baptist Men are trained in disaster relief efforts and were one of the leading groups sending resources and volunteers into tornado-ravaged areas. Of the group's 13,000 volunteers statewide, 68 are members of Highland Baptist. }

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Churches Become Centers for Aid

From: St. Louis Review

{HENRYVILLE, Ind. -- As one of the few buildings in town to come through intense storms March 2 nearly intact, St. Francis Xavier Church has become a natural staging area for relief efforts, community organizing and prayer.}

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Note: Is your church ready to assist in a disaster?

Churches and Natural Disasters

With the recent events in Haiti it is easier for people to think about the effects of a natural disaster. Although the images and news story's can be viewed daily there can still be a separation of reality since the tragedy did not directly effect those who are viewing them. It is important for us to be prepared for a natural disaster both in our homes and at our local churches. 


FEMA has some really helpful information on disaster planning. You can find this information at http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/. The information covers the following natural disasters:

• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Hurricanes
• Thunderstorms and Lightning
• Winter Storms and Extreme Cold
• Extreme Heat
• Earthquakes
• Volcanoes
• Landslide and Debris Flow (Mudslide)
• Tsunamis
• Fires
• Wildfires

I also came across this picture on line today. It was submitted by Ryan Crim and depicts a tornado behind Huston's First Baptist Church. The picture was found on Huntsville Times.