SBC Life Articles in Baptist Global Response

WEST AFRICA (BP) -- In the Bible, God demonstrates His power through water. Jesus turned water into wine and then walked on top of waves. He even compares Himself to water. God still uses water as a conduit for miracles. Last year, He blessed a small well in the desert of West Africa. Shadrach Black, West Africa project coordinator for the Baptist Global Response humanitarian aid organization, recounted the miracle a ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- After Tropical Storm Nate pummeled a safe house for girls in Nicaragua, a HEART Fund grant (Humanitarian Emergency Aid for Rebuilding Tomorrow) is helping the ministry in offering crisis care to its neighbors. The $2,500 gift from the WMU Foundation couldn't have come at a better time, said Landa Carnes, a missionary serving at Emmanuel Home of Protection, a ministry of Baptist Medical and Dental Mission International.

YANGON, Myanmar (BP) -- Residents of Myanmar -- early beneficiaries of the Baptist missions movement two centuries ago -- once again are the focus of work by Baptists. This time, Baptists are providing aid in response to a humanitarian crisis among the Rohingya, a large Muslim people group in southwest Myanmar. Baptist historian Jason Duesing said the Rohingya crisis illustrates that the legacy of Adoniram Judson, the first missionary funded by the Triennial Convention in 1814, largely has been eradicated in contemporary Myanmar.

In today's SBC Digest: Ed Stetzer named as Lausanne's North America director; former President George W. Bush speaks at Union University's scholarship banquet; Baptist Global Response releases its annual Christmas catalog of human needs projects.

MEXICO CITY (BP) --- In the aftermath of an earthquake in central Mexico that killed at least 217 people, Southern Baptists are moving to assess opportunities for response. The 7.1-magnitude quake struck Tuesday (Sept. 19), exactly 32 years after an even-larger tremor devastated large areas of Mexico City and killed about 10,000 people. This new earthquake was centered about 76 miles southeast of the city and affected five states.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (BP) -- Food and water shortages in the Caribbean are being relieved by Southern Baptist partners and disaster relief workers nearly a week after Hurricane Irma trampled islands and killed at least 38 people. Baptist Global Response (BGR) is already distributing food in Cuba, where Irma hit 13 of the 15 provinces. The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the North American Mission Board (NAMB) to transport a feeding unit to Puerto Rico, BGR CEO Jeff Palmer told Baptist Press today (Sept. 12).

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (BP) -- Days after Hurricane Irma killed at least 34 people and destroyed entire communities in the Caribbean and West Indies, Southern Baptist partners are on site assessing the most urgent needs for assistance. A Baptist Global Response disaster assessment and response team arrived Sunday night (Sept. 10) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, BGR CEO Jeff Palmer told Baptist Press today, and is working in cooperation with the North American Mission Board to meet the immediate life-preserving needs of ...

NASHVILLE (BP) -- The second major hurricane threatening the U.S. within two weeks has Southern Baptists and their partners actively preparing to respond to Hurricane Irma, even as Harvey recovery efforts hunker down for the long haul. With flood waters still standing in some parts of Texas, and Category 5 Irma churning, President Trump has declared states of emergency in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (BP) -- People huddled in blankets near Ha Tsolosa, Lesotho. The January rain drizzled around them, a sign the recent drought was ending. The lack of rain had lasted two years and had devastated crops so badly many villagers had run out of food. Soon, aid workers -- both foreign and local -- started unloading relief items including bags of mealie (corn meal), oil and beans from trucks. But one worker looked a little different to the crowd.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Baptist Global Response (BGR) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in a big way -- with a campaign to raise $100,000 for people in need. Since 2007, the humanitarian aid organization has been partnering with Southern Baptist donors to fund disaster relief and community development projects around the world. And, BGR hopes to celebrate the milestone in August by raising $10,000 for each year of service, reaching a total of $100,000.