A Brief History of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief
In 1967, Hurricane Beulah ravaged the Rio Grande Valley and northern Mexico. Robert E. (Bob) Dixon had just moved from the First Baptist Church of Memphis, Tenn., to work with Royal Ambassadors and Texas Baptist Men. Following the devastation of Hurricane Beulah, Dixon used camp craft skills and turned 10-gallon cans into miniature stoves called “buddy burners,” which were used to prepare hot food for people affected by the disaster as well as the volunteer workers. Texas Baptist Men again provided hot meals and the love of God to disaster victims in response to a tornado that cut a deadly swath through Lubbock and to Hurricane Celia’s devastation of Corpus Christi.
The 1971 Mary Hill Davis Texas State Mission Offering allotted $25,000 for a disaster relief mobile feeding unit for Texas Baptist Men. With these funds Dr. John LaNoue and other volunteers purchased and converted a used 18-wheeler into the first mobile feeding unit. The mobile feeding unit made its maiden voyage in 1972 when a flash flood struck the Seguin/New Braunfels area of central Texas. The unit prepared and served more than 2,500 hot meals to the disaster victims and disaster relief workers.
In 1973, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to the first international disaster. An earthquake affected Managua, Nicaragua, and volunteers constructed buildings to house seven congregations. In 1974, the 18-wheel mobile feeding unit and volunteers responded to Hurricane Fifi in Honduras.
By 1976 four more state Baptist conventions (Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kansas/Nebraska) had established disaster relief mobile units and joined Texas in this new area of ministry. By 1988 nine more state Baptist conventions had joined the disaster relief ministry: Tennessee (1979), Alabama (1981), Illinois, Arkansas, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, and Ohio.
Following Hurricane Andrew (August 1992), there was a three-day debrief of the Southern Baptist response. A result of this meeting was the beginning of the development of the Disaster Relief Operational Procedures Manual (DROP) to formalize training and establish operational protocols. In 1994, the state Baptist convention disaster relief directors officially adopted the DROP Manual during their annual disaster relief meeting. This manual continues to be the foundation of protocols and training and is currently in its third edition.
This also began the tradition of an annual DR Roundtable meeting that took place during the last week of April. It has since been moved to the last week of January and a 1-day Roundtable in June. During this time policies and procedures are reviewed and approved by state Baptist convention disaster relief directors. It is also a time of fellowship, training, worship, and networking for state and national leadership. Partner organizations also participate with review of the year’s activities and plans.
Since 1967, when a handful of Texans answered God’s call, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has grown to include all state conventions. Trained volunteers stand ready to be called out when disaster strikes anywhere in the world. As Lloyd Jackson of Virginia stated, “Disaster relief provides a unique opportunity to translate the message and person of Jesus Christ into flesh and blood as His followers respond in love and compassion to hurting people regardless of circumstances, social status, financial situation, language, political persuasion, theological stance, education or race. ‘As you do unto these, you do unto me’ remains the guideline for ministry to people in and through disaster relief.” To God be the glory!
The 1971 Mary Hill Davis Texas State Mission Offering allotted $25,000 for a disaster relief mobile feeding unit for Texas Baptist Men. With these funds Dr. John LaNoue and other volunteers purchased and converted a used 18-wheeler into the first mobile feeding unit. The mobile feeding unit made its maiden voyage in 1972 when a flash flood struck the Seguin/New Braunfels area of central Texas. The unit prepared and served more than 2,500 hot meals to the disaster victims and disaster relief workers.
In 1973, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to the first international disaster. An earthquake affected Managua, Nicaragua, and volunteers constructed buildings to house seven congregations. In 1974, the 18-wheel mobile feeding unit and volunteers responded to Hurricane Fifi in Honduras.
By 1976 four more state Baptist conventions (Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Kansas/Nebraska) had established disaster relief mobile units and joined Texas in this new area of ministry. By 1988 nine more state Baptist conventions had joined the disaster relief ministry: Tennessee (1979), Alabama (1981), Illinois, Arkansas, North Carolina, Missouri, Kentucky, Florida, and Ohio.
Following Hurricane Andrew (August 1992), there was a three-day debrief of the Southern Baptist response. A result of this meeting was the beginning of the development of the Disaster Relief Operational Procedures Manual (DROP) to formalize training and establish operational protocols. In 1994, the state Baptist convention disaster relief directors officially adopted the DROP Manual during their annual disaster relief meeting. This manual continues to be the foundation of protocols and training and is currently in its third edition.
This also began the tradition of an annual DR Roundtable meeting that took place during the last week of April. It has since been moved to the last week of January and a 1-day Roundtable in June. During this time policies and procedures are reviewed and approved by state Baptist convention disaster relief directors. It is also a time of fellowship, training, worship, and networking for state and national leadership. Partner organizations also participate with review of the year’s activities and plans.
Since 1967, when a handful of Texans answered God’s call, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has grown to include all state conventions. Trained volunteers stand ready to be called out when disaster strikes anywhere in the world. As Lloyd Jackson of Virginia stated, “Disaster relief provides a unique opportunity to translate the message and person of Jesus Christ into flesh and blood as His followers respond in love and compassion to hurting people regardless of circumstances, social status, financial situation, language, political persuasion, theological stance, education or race. ‘As you do unto these, you do unto me’ remains the guideline for ministry to people in and through disaster relief.” To God be the glory!