Feature image courtesy of California Southern Baptists Convention Disaster Relief on Facebook.
Over the past few days, parts of Southern California have been ravaged by wildfires. According to Statista.com, these fires have caused between $135 billion and $150 billion in damages and have killed at least 24 people as of Jan. 13.
Send Relief, a collaborative global compassion ministry between the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board, has a Ministry Center located in the heart of Los Angeles, California. According to them, 180,000 people have been displaced in Los Angeles. In a video posted to their YouTube channel, Send Relief LA Ministry Director Darryl Speers gave an update on how Send Relief was assisting in response to the fires.
“I’m standing right now in the middle of Skid Row where we have a mission team ministering today in this community with hot meals, fresh water and even face masks as it literally is raining down ashes from the local fires,” he said.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers are traveling to California to assist with wildfire cleanup efforts. However, according to Send Relief Crisis Response Director Coy Webb, response is somewhat limited until the fires are contained.
“During an active fire the response is limited until fires are contained so that we do not cause issues for the first responders,” he said.
Speers asked for prayers as Send Relief and SBDR volunteers continue to respond to the fires.
“We ask for your guys’ prayer to come alongside us as we partner to meet the needs,” he said.
In a Jan. 9 release, California DR Director Kendrick Neal stated that California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (CSBDR) is in communication with the City of Los Angeles, the Emergency Network of Los Angeles, the Red Cross, The Salvation army, first responders deployed to the firefighting efforts and churches that have been impacted by the fires. CSBDR are planning and preparing to provide help, hope and healing to those affected by the fires while first responders work on protecting people and putting out fires.
Neal also requested that churches in the area would be open to housing DR teams when the cleanup efforts begin and encourage church members to become DR volunteers as the cleanup efforts will take several months.
Oklahoma Baptist DR volunteers stand ready to go and serve those impacted in California whenever the call from California DR comes. For Oklahoma volunteers wanting to help, first make sure you are credentialed with Oklahoma DR and then respond as your schedule allows. For now, Oklahoma DR advises against bringing personal items as they would only congest the situation. This rule may change in the future. For future updates or more information, visit baptistpress.com.
