More than three weeks after hurricane Laura made landfall, we continue discovering new damage left by the storm. We now know all GTBN congregations were affected in some way, with 8 congregations receiving major damage to the point of disrupting ministries.

Despite these wounds, churches across the Network continue their efforts serving our communities as well as those of our neighbors in Louisiana. I am aware of at least 30 GTBN congregations who have sent teams, housed teams, or gathered supplies! And fourteen have partnered with one or more Louisiana churches, helping them through the recovery. Volunteers with our SBC Disaster Relief partners are working hard on both sides of the Sabine, though they expect to wind down operations in Orange county in about a week.I maintain contact with convention Disaster Relief directors, associational leadership in Louisiana, and others, tracking especially those areas most needing assistance. So if you have yet to find your connecting point, please call.If your church has assembled a chainsaw or clean-up team and you need work sites, please use
crisiscleanup.org. Contact me to set up an account. As DR units serving locally wind down their operations, all incomplete requests will be added to Crisis Cleanup, where presently more than 4000 work orders remain unclaimed.

While power is slowly being restored through the affected areas, the need for supplies remains. Pastor Sonny Hathaway and LaBelle Baptist Church have accepted responsibility as our local depot for supplies going into Louisiana. If your church has collected supplies and you need help transporting them to Louisiana, please contact Bro. Sonny at 409-728-2442 or sonnyhathaway@gmail.com.

The current list of most needed items includes:
  • Pet Food
  • Fix-a-Flat
  • Baby items, diapers, formula, baby food, and wipes
  • Mosquito repellent, spray or wipes (people really love the wipes)
  • Non-perishable food
  • Box fans
  • Water (not as highly needed as before, but welcome)

Financial support remains a need as well. You may give directly to the Carey Baptist Association’s efforts in and around Lake Charles through this link.

Carey Baptist Association Disaster Relief Donations

Support GTBN’s ministry in both Texas and Louisiana here.

Give to the GTBN Disaster Relief Fund

Finally you may support the continued efforts of Texas Baptist Men and Southern Baptist of Texas Disaster Relief ministries through these links.
Give to TBM Disaster Relief

Give to SB Texas Disaster Relief

I am grateful for God’s continued provision through the churches of GTBN. I pray that from this effort will come many gospel conversations and souls saved. May Christ be glorified as we work together.

Bro. Jim

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