Texans on Mission volunteers assess needs in Jamaica
By Russ Dilday/Texans on Mission
KINGSTON, Jamaica – In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s damage across Jamaica and the wider Caribbean, Texans on Mission has deployed an initial task force to support local partners on the ground.
The four-person team is working primarily with the Jamaica Baptist Union to assess immediate needs, develop recovery plans and implement actionable strategies for long-term community resilience.
More than planning though, they are responding to local needs by providing food and hygiene kits sourced on the island nation.
Texans on Mission volunteer and chaplaincy coordinator Melanie Howington said the team has been building relationships with on-the-ground partners and expected to move toward the most-affected areas near Montego Bay.
Assembling care kits for families
Volunteers also are responding to requests from the Jamaica Baptist Union to provide immediate aid to families.
“Their big need is to get some kind of a kit to some of their people in areas where the churches have had bad damage or were destroyed,” she said.
“And so we spent yesterday and today going to multiple stores. We had to divide up and buy canvas bags because you can’t have plastic here, then piece out kits for 250 people.”
The team worked with Jamaica Baptist Union members to assemble the bags with food staples like flour and rice, plus hygiene items needed by affected families.
The group’s efforts were slowed by some food and hygiene item shortages that forced them to source from several locations over two days, Howington said.
Even so, she added: “God does provide. God is good.”
The team also is networking with other aid providers. They’ve attended coordinated meetings with other governmental and NGO disaster response organizations for daily briefings.
They also met with a medical relief group, MedGlobal, and provided them with water purifiers destined for use at a local hospital.
Tennessee church houses DR teams after explosion
By Zöe Watkins/Baptist and Reflector
CENTERVILLE, Tenn. – Fairfield Baptist Church has become a base camp for disaster relief volunteers responding to the Accurate Energetic Systems explosion that killed 16 people Oct. 10 in Bucksnort, Tenn.
Those at the church, located in Centerville, didn’t hesitate to offer housing for Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers.
“I admire these volunteers,” said Lynn Hill, transitional pastor at Fairfield. “They do this because they believe it’s what Jesus would have them do.”
The church has housed about eight volunteers since the deadly explosion sent shockwaves throughout the surrounding area.
The explosion began in an area where workers produce a mixture of explosives in production kettles, according to multiple news outlets.
The explosion then set off other explosives stored nearby, authorities said Oct. 24 during a press conference. Authorities have developed several hypotheses about the initial cause of the blast but have not released them yet.
With the area still feeling the impact, disaster relief volunteers have served hot meals on-site to first responders and investigative personnel. JST’s local disaster relief (short for three local associations: Judson, Stewart and Truett) team have also helped Englewood Baptist Church’s DR team feed first responders at AES explosion site.
Hill understands the sacrifice many volunteers from across the state have made.
“These volunteers sleep on cots, and they don’t have the normal comforts we all usually enjoy throughout the year,” Hill said. “But I admire that they’re willing to do that. It’s a sacrifice on their part, and they don’t get a dime for it.”
Opening the church represents a small gesture, but one that goes a long way. “Not only do we give our money to join with other churches across the country to support Baptist ministries and causes and missionaries, but to me, this brings the Cooperative Program right down to our church level, and we’re getting a chance to live it out,” Hill said.
Russ Wilkins, the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s Harvest Field 2 leader, initially reached out to Hill to ask if the church could house the volunteers.
“I appreciate Fairfield Baptist and pastor Lynn Hill for opening their facilities to host a Disaster Relief team after the horrific explosion,” Wilkins said.
Wilkins served as an associational missions strategist for seven years and said they faced natural disasters in four of those years.
“Disaster relief arrived first on site in each one, and Tennessee Baptist churches opened their doors to enable a long-term response,” he recalled.
“When people who’ve lost everything see our churches not only love God but actively demonstrate love for their neighbors, it’s powerful.
“It’s never convenient for a church to give up time, space and resources, so I’m humbled by their willingness to open their doors for these teams,” Wilkins continued. “Pastor Lynn is exactly right — this is the Cooperative Program in action at the local church level.
“Churches working together to meet needs and share Christ’s love when it’s needed most. That’s what we’re all about.”
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