ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP)–Less than an hour after two planes slammed into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, Southern Baptist disaster relief units were ready to respond, and Southern Baptists were called to intercede through prayer.
“Already, disaster relief feeding units from four Baptist state conventions have been placed on standby and are ready to move toward New York City,” said Robert E. Reccord, president of the North American Mission Board, which coordinates multi-state disaster response for Southern Baptists. “We’re also preparing to coordinate response by SBC chaplains who can minister so effectively to those impacted by these tragedies as we saw following the Oklahoma City bombing.”
Reccord said he has also been in contact with Southern Baptists’ missionary to the United Nations community, Ken Welborn, who is ministering to those affected by the events. The U.N. building in New York’s Midtown area was evacuated.
“I know I join millions of Southern Baptists across North America who have already gone to their knees to pray for the families of those touched by the terrible loss of life in these tragedies,” Reccord said. “I would also encourage them to also pray for the injured victims, for the emergency response personnel and for wisdom for our government leaders as they consider appropriate responses.”
Reccord told the NAMB staff who gathered for prayer at the agency offices in Alpharetta, Ga., “My prayer is also that God will work through these events to turn our nation back to him. I am so thankful that Southern Baptists stand ready to immediately respond to crises by going to the One who is the ultimate source of comfort and guidance in tragic times.”
Donations to support SBC disaster relief efforts in New York City can be made either to the North American Mission Board or state Baptist conventions who respond. On-line donations may be made at NAMB’s website www.namb.net.
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