Disaster Assistance Combating Natural Disasters With Acts Of God

Weekly Recap

2012-03-09T10:52:00.005-05:00

It has been a very busy week. We left Texas Saturday morning and arrived in Southern
Indiana Sunday evening. As soon as we arrived we went to meeting with church leaders.
Big Springs CoC called and asked us to come after recommendation from church we
helped last year. We met at Northside Coc in Jeffersonville, In. Big Springs and Northside are the two churches that are taking the lead for this mission work. We are working with many churches in several different communities as well. In just 3days this week we have served 1362 meals. Today it rained all day but we still had 2 large groups outdoing chainsaw in the rain. Today we had a 53’ ref truck setup here by the Mobile Headquarters. I won’t know what to do with all that space. We also had two loads of other misc supplies delivered today. We have well over 100 volunteers scheduled to help here on Saturday. Northside and Big Springs feel we should be prepared to serve 2000 meals. Here are some of the areas wehave been working in: Pekin, Heneryville, Marysville,Salem, Fredricksburg, New Piken, Palmyra and Chelsa. There are more supplies coming intomorrow. We can continue to dothis work of feeding hungry people whose lives have been devastated by disasters only with the financial support of our brothers and sisters across the U.S.

Please pass thisinformation on to everyone on your email and Facebook list , take it to your church and business, you never know who might be willing to help us. Pleasep ray for the thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed and forus as we show the love of the Lord to them by just providing a simple meal.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something todrink, ..." Matt. 25:35

Please keep the familiesthat have been hurt by these storms in your prayers.

2012-03-08T08:19:00.001-05:00

Well it is raining pretty here right now. We have lots of volunteers waiting to go out.

2012-03-07T15:42:00.001-05:00

Today we served 462 meals and had many groups out helping with cleanup and repairs. Tomorrow we have a 53' refrigerator truck being setup here at the Mobile Headquarters.

We need Funds to keep the below working going. Please help us if you can.

2012-03-06T20:12:00.003-05:00

Very busy day today. We served 450 meals. Had multi teams of volunteers out working on cleanup. So far we have over 100 volunteers scheduled to be here this weekend. Photo below is volunteers at the Disaster Assistance Headquarters for there work assiments. Later this week refrig truck and misc supply trailer will be here on site. Disaster Assistance Mission is working along with multi churches in many areas Big Springs, Pekin, Palmyra, Fredricksburg, salem, Marysville, Henryville and others.

2012-03-05T21:20:00.002-05:00

Very busy today we started out surveying the area but as you can see from the photo below it was difficult to see much with the snow. We had 3 groups out working mostly chainsaw work today. We than started looking for a site to setup the mobile headquarters in Pekin, IN. We found a great site right down town. Than we went back to Jeffersonville picked up everything and headed back to Pekin and setup. The owner of the spot has three metal carports there and is letting us use 2 of them to setup tables and chairs for people to set and eat. Than it was off to Sams to get supplies to cook for 800 meals.
The three things we need are your prayers, volunteers and funds. We are going to start feeding here on site and taking meals out into the community tomorrow.

Ready and waiting for the group to get here so we can head out and survey the damaged areas.

2012-03-05T07:31:00.002-05:00

-Disaster Assistance-Southern Indiana Tornadoes-

2012-03-04T23:02:00.000-05:00

I arrived here at Southern Indiana around 6:30 this evening and went directly into meeting with Northside CoC (Jeffersonville) and Big Spring CoC (Pekin). We are also going to be working with around 5 other churches in the area. Pekin is one of the areas that was hard hit. There is always 3 things that our Mission needs, Your Prayers, Volunteers and Funds. Areas that volunteers can help with are Meal Prep, Meal Delivery, Food and Supplies Dist and cleanup and repair. Tomorrow we are going out into the damaged towns and surveying the needs. We also have 2 groups of volunteers going out to do cleanup and repairs. If you would like to come and help just email me the dates and how many will be coming. At that time I will let you know any supplies we might need that you could bring along. Donation Information to your right.

2012-03-03T00:29:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone, it has been a very long day and it is still not over many storms out there. A few hours ago I received call from Southern Indiana. We will be heading that way tomorrow morning. We will be working with 3 or 4 churches in that area and coordinating the work from one location. We will have a complete operation setup (meals, outreach, food & supply dist and cleanup and repair.) Please let me know if you want to come and help. Please keep all of the families that have been hurt by the storms this week in your prayers and also say one for me as I have over 1000 miles to drive to get there. Donation information is 2 your right. Please help us we can not keep this mission going without it.

Louisville, Ky is now under a level 10 warning that is the highest level 100% chance of tornadoes.

2012-03-02T15:43:00.001-05:00

Tornado warnings now in 5 states TN, KY, IL, MO,AL and the worst is yet to come.

2012-03-02T12:53:00.001-05:00

2012-03-02T11:43:00.001-05:00

Tornado damage in Huntsville, AL. I have Don Hudson our Director of Evangelism checking with his contacts there (Don lives not far from there in TN)

Please keep your eyes on the weather today. The white shaded area on the map below has a 90% chance of tornadoes.

2012-03-02T10:13:00.000-05:00

2012-02-29T18:30:00.000-05:00

I have been following all of the storms and tornadoes on the weather channel today. I have made calls to several areas checking to see if they needed any help. I also spent around an hour on a conference call with one of the churches that is getting in a load of supplies to help those families in need. I reviewed with them all of our programs and how they could implement them to better assist those families without us being there. I am adding this form of help to our program so that we can be of assistance to more areas without driving 900 miles each way for only a few days work. The leaders of the church very much appreciated the ideas and how to get them started. Looking forward to following up with them to see how it goes.

Tornado on the ground in Elizabethtown, KY

2012-02-29T10:57:00.002-05:00

Tornadoes-I just listened to the Mayor of Branson, MO give an update and she said that damage and injuries are minor form the tornado that hit Branson

2012-02-29T08:57:00.001-05:00

2012-02-01T10:55:00.003-05:00

Watch for our qr code coming soon. It will be on our T-shirts magnet signs and other places. When you scan it with your smart phone it will take you to our web site.

2012-01-23T12:42:00.002-05:00

Have talked with Trae and Lee from Central CoC where we spent over 3 months last year. They are surveying the damaged areas and will be letting me know what is needed. Also have talked with Elder from Roebuck Pky CoC one of the damaged areas. He also will keep me updated.

2012-01-23T10:41:00.000-05:00

Clearing roads in the Paradise Valley subdivision in Clay-Chalkville.

By: ABC 33/40

2012-01-23T09:39:00.002-05:00

Ryan's brother, Chad Key & his wife Christi Stephens-Key & their daughter Lindsey Key lost their house last night from a tornado here in Birmingham area. Here is a picture of what I left of their house. They are safe & sound. Please pray for them during a hard time like this though.

Kelly Hinote Key's Photos

Tornadoes

2012-01-23T09:27:00.001-05:00

Trying to find out about tornado damage in Alabama. I have been in touch with my contacts in that area here is what I know so far. Apparently two tornadoes came through. One was south and east of Birmingham in the suburbs and the other was in a more rural area about 20-30 miles south of B'ham. Details are sketchy, but there are two families from the Roebuck Pky CoC who have lost homes. There are two confirmed fatalities, but neither are members at Roebuck. I will post more as I know.

2012-01-16T15:45:00.001-05:00

Getting everything ready to leave early tomorrow morning for Lubbock(10 hour drive). I will be setting up display booth at The Year of Jubilee - Sunset Vision Workshop at Sunset International Bible Institute, January 18-21. If you are attending or will be in the area please stop by, we will have booth 33 located next to Acappella.

Texas Fire

2012-01-07T12:33:00.000-05:00

Mary Jo Whitworth We were one of the many families Mr. Baumgartner and Church of Christ helped here in Bastrop County. We will forever be grateful!!! Thanks so much to all the volunteers who made a difference for so many of us.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T10:17:00.002-05:00

2011-12-15T20:30:00.000-05:00

We enjoyed another Habitat for Humanity ribbon cutting ceremony for a sweet family! Tornados are terrible, but all that has happened here in Tuscaloosa since that day has been a huge blessing!!!

By: Trae Durden

Update from Bastrop Church of Christ

2011-12-12T11:32:00.001-05:00

There is one more weekend left at the Bastrop Church of Christ, where we will be open for distribution of supplies (clothes, everyday items) Thursday, Friday, and Sat, 10 AM - 5PM. After that we will still be helping but in another phase... We will focus more on larger appliances, custom needs that will need an appointment and evaluations

2011-12-06T18:23:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas and thanks so much for all the prayers, volunteers and donations that were sent our way that made it possible for us to keep this mission work going.

Work in Bastrop, TX - Update from Mark Klym

2011-11-30T07:52:00.001-05:00

Spent last evening at a pep rally getting "fired up" to help build a home in 106 hours! Extreme Makeover Home Edition is coming to Bastrop next week. We do not know who the lucky family will be, but they need 3000 volunteers to make this happen. We showed the producers a great Texas welcome. Now let's show them that Central Texas can make this happen!

Mark Klym

2011-11-24T11:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks so much for all the prayers volunteers and donations that were sent our way that made it possible for us to keep this mission work going.

2011-11-22T11:08:00.003-05:00

Extreme Makeover Home Edition Pep Rally!!! Tuesday, Nov. 29th, 6:30pm, at the Performing Arts Center, located at 1401 Cedar Street in Bastrop. Awesome!!!

2011-11-17T13:32:00.000-05:00

Over 800 meals served here today at Bastrop CoC

2011-11-12T21:53:00.002-05:00

Bastrop, TX Disaster Assistance

2011-11-09T10:06:00.002-05:00

By Jana Copeland
On Sept. 4, when the Labor Day Fires began, members of the Bastrop Church of Christ had no idea what our “place” would be in the community with our offer to help. We took a step out in faith and quickly became a Disaster Assistance Relief Center.

We offered help and began getting donations of all kinds coming in from the community, other churches, out of state as far away as Maine and even as far as a little island off the South of Pacific in the American Samoa territory called Pago Pago.

“Just the outpouring of all the help coming in, it surprised me and touched me that anyone that far away knows about what is going on in Bastrop and chose us to send a donation to,” said Smith “Smitty” Covey, an elder at the church.

Jimmy Copeland, another elder at the church, said “Just so much compassion and generosity being shown, even by those who lost their own homes, is a true blessing to experience and it has touched my heart.”

One of the biggest suppliers of food and supplies has come from Church of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. from Nashville, Tenn. They have delivered three semi truck loads of food and supplies worth more than $250,000. Most of those supplies have been handed out to those who came looking for immediate food and supplies. They supplied us with the means to hand out boxes of non-perishable foods for families of four, five-gallon buckets of cleaning supplies, boxes of personal items, boxes of items for infants, shovels, rakes, mops, brooms, bleach, laundry, dish soap and more. Texas Boot Company out of Bastrop donated boxes and boxes of jeans, which has been such a blessing to so many.

God’s grace

By God’s gracious mercy and love, we have been supplied with the means to help well over 1,000 families, so far, and we are averaging about 80 fire victim families visiting and collecting food and supplies a day, on the days we are open. We hope to be able to continue to supply non-perishable foods and all types of supplies as well as household items and furniture.

As those who lost their homes are getting into more permanent housing, their needs are changing and we are phasing some things out and changing what we offer to meet those new needs. When asked what the church’s goal was and if there was a time frame for shutting the relief down, Ted Bowers, one of four elders, said, “Our goal here is to help those in need for as long as there is a need. We can’t put an expiration date on it. We are trying to walk in the way of the scriptures, as Galations 5:6, says that the only thing that counts, is faith expressing itself through love, and further down in Galations 6:9 it says to not let us grow weary in doing good.”

The Disaster Assistance COC, Mike Baumgartner from Lake Jackson who is associated with Lake Jackson Church of Christ, has a mobile kitchen unit set up on the church grounds and provides meals twice a day for fire victims, firefighters, police and volunteers to eat here or pick up and take home. To visit their web site go to www.disaster
assistancecoc.com. Mike has been a blessing here to all of us, by feeding us and also bringing in a lot of volunteers through his contacts from previous missions where he has been set up.

We have been blessed with volunteers from all over, on a daily basis, who have worked endlessly on sorting and organizing all the clothes, dishes, food pantry items, loading and unloading trailers of everything from basic canned foods to whole bedroom suites. What a blessing and wonderful thing to see the outpouring of love, kindness and generosity for those who lost so much in the Labor Day Fires. We have groups of volunteers who go out and clean up homesites, as well.

What a blessing it has been for those who have found themselves with nothing, being provided so much by their fellow community peers. Ronnie Morris, one of the four elders at the Bastrop Church of Christ who is heading up the volunteers who clean up home sites, said, “Just to look on the volunteers’ ash-covered faces when a site is marked clean is a blessing to all of us and has touched me more than I can express.”

Thanksgiving dinner

We are planning a Thanksgiving dinner for the entire community and also anyone involved in the Bastrop fires, including firefighters, police, volunteers and families whose homes were affected on Saturday, Nov. 12 from noon to 3 p.m. Please spread the word and let everyone know that we are serving Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, as we count and give thanks for all the blessings we do have. We are sure that God’s love and compassion is being shown through all who are here volunteering and donating.

Distribution times

Our days and hours of distribution for fire victims are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. We can use volunteers seven days a week to sort and organize the donations. We are accepting donations of furniture, household items and gift cards still.

Below is letter that was sent to the Bastrop Church of Christ.

2011-11-07T10:05:00.000-05:00

Dear Church of Christ Volunteers

Coming to your disaster relief center has been and is the bright spot in the center of all this turmoil.

It has been such a pleasure to discover true Christians, people who have clearly read the gospels and intend to live the life Christ tells us will not only make us happy but will lead to a heaven with him.

Thank you so much for all you have done to make this experience bearable. Thank you for everything.

Bastrop, TX Everyone Welcome

2011-10-31T09:35:00.001-04:00

Don's Devotional

2011-10-28T11:43:00.001-04:00

Affections are powerful. Affections are often that on which we focus and use so much of our strength and energy. My affections can be good or bad, it really does depend on me. It is written, "set your affections on things that are above". In doing this, it can help us grow in the Spirit. By setting our affections on the living Jesus, we can grow in our concern for the church...that in all things He might have the preeminence. We can grow spiritually in bible study...rightly dividing the word. It has been said, "that which becomes still, becomes stagnant". I want my life to be a refreshing stream not a stagnant pond. I believe you do too. Let's help and encourage each other.

-Disaster Assistance-Update from Central Church of Christ Tuscaloosa, AL by Lee Jamieson-

2011-10-27T10:04:00.001-04:00

We have been providing appliances, furniture and ongoing assistance to folks we encountered during the time you were here. We cull through the contacts and assist them as they find their new permanent home. We have helped 35-40 families in this way so far. We are lined up to assist 15 families as soon as their new Habitat-For-Humanity homes are completed.

2011-10-24T18:42:00.000-04:00

-Disaster Assistancce-Bastrop TX CoC-We received 1000 cases today each filled with the following items: 14 oz box cereal, 2 boxes mac & cheese, 4 packs of ramen noodles, 2 bx of jello, 1 pk paper plates, box of tuna helper, 1 pk spaghetti, 1 can spaghetti sauce, jar of peanut butter, jar of jelly, box of saltines, 2 cans of chili, roll of paper towels, pk of silverware, laundry soap, six pack applesauce, bx of instant coffee, bag of pinto beans and a bag of rice.

We just received 3 loads of pre-packed food boxes photo of one trailer being unloaded below

2011-10-24T13:22:00.002-04:00

Disaster Assistance/Bastrop Church of Christ

2011-10-23T10:47:00.002-04:00

Group of Abilene Christian University students here for the weekend volunteering, just back from cleaning a homesite.

2011-10-22T11:38:00.000-04:00

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,TX-We have a large group of students today from Abilene Christian University out helping cleanup burned homes.

Thanksgiving Meal for Bastrop,TX area.

2011-10-17T16:53:00.002-04:00

On Saturday November 12 a Thanksgiving meal will be served at the Bastrop Church of Christ for fire victims, fire fighters, police and anyone in the area that wants to attend.

Below is from todays Bastrop Church of Christ bulletin

2011-10-16T15:41:00.004-04:00

The Bastrop Church of Christ Relief efforts continue on going into our 7th week, beginning today. We have had donations of all kinds coming in from the community, other Churches of Christ, and even those out of state as far away as Maine. We, by Gods gracious mercy and love, have been supplied with the means to help well over 1,000 families so far.

We have been blessed with volunteers from all over, on a daily basis, who have worked endlessly on sorting and organizing all the clothes, dishes, food pantry items, loading and unloading trailers of everything for basic can foods to whole bedroom suits. What a blessing and wonderful thing to see the outpouring of loving kindness, and generosity of those who lost so much in the Labor Day Fires.

We have groups of volunteers who go out and clean up the home sites as well. What a blessing it has been for those who have found themselves with nothing, being provided so much by their fellow community peers.

We are sure that God's love and compassion is being shown through all who are here volunteering and donating, in his name. What a way to reach out to the community and show them how much we do care and how much love God can bring to a community through those of his children who are willing to open their hearts and mind and let God work through them.....All Glory to God!

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop Church of Christ,TX-

2011-10-15T15:17:00.002-04:00

Load of hay just arrived for our 4 legged friends. We have around 70 volunteers working here at the distribution center and out cleaning up burned homes today.

Photos below are of the work volunteers did today.

2011-10-13T18:37:00.004-04:00

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,TX-

2011-10-11T10:48:00.002-04:00

Town Hall Community Conversation from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Jerry Fay Wilhelm Center for the Performing Arts, 1401 Cedar Street, Bastrop.

“We’ve got a long road ahead of us, but we’ve already started on our way back,” Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald said. “We know people have questions about what happens next, so we’re getting representatives from government agencies and other public sector providers together so people can get their questions answered in one place.”

We were here with Elders from Bastrop CoC last night with a display setup.

Bastrop Church of Christ

2011-10-08T10:29:00.001-04:00

New items are needed by those in our community who are rebuilding their lives and homes after the Labor Day fires.... ladders, paint brushes, hand tools and masking tape. As you can see by this new list, priorities are changing. These items may be dropped off at the Bastrop Church of Christ building which is located at 287 FM 20. Please share this with your FB friends. Your help is very appreciated.

Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,TX

2011-10-05T08:13:00.001-04:00

Was out surveying the area with Elders of Bastrop CoC last night. Photo below is one of the burned homes that we have helped clean up.

Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management

2011-10-04T18:01:00.001-04:00

Update: Fire has been name Old Potato Fire. Fire is estimated at 500-600 acs and spreading north toward Herron Trail and 2336 Camp Swift. TFS has several aircraft resources fighting fire including DC-10. Herron Trail and Oak Hill Cemetary Rd to 2336 have been evacuated.

Central Texas fires 2011

2011-10-04T11:20:00.000-04:00

The Austin Bar Association in partnership with the Bastrop County Bar Association has opened a free legal clinic in the Disaster Relief Center (1602 Hill St., Bastrop High School 9th Grade Center) established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Attorney volunteers will be available at the Relief Center to answer basic legal questions Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The legal clinics will be available at this location as long as the FEMA Center is operating.

In addition, two hotlines have been set up for legal questions for those that cannot return to the area:
•State Bar of Texas: 1-800-504-7030
•Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: 1-866-757-1570

Bastrop, TX- Ralph and his group are from League City CoC, Texas

2011-10-04T07:54:00.002-04:00

This is the place we worked in assistance to those that lost their homes in the recent wildfire. It was a brick home with a metal roof and steel studs, and it was completely destroyed, though the flag and pole in the front yard were untouched, as were the wood frame homes on either side of this one.

By: Ralph Bryant

Bastrop County Emergency Services District No. 2

2011-10-03T20:27:00.000-04:00

Still having ground fires inside the perimeter of the "Complex" fire. Please keep the needles swept away from your surviving homes. If you have yaupon brush remaining on your property, cut it back, or remove it completely. This is the "ladder fuel" that carries the fire into the tops of the trees. One month has passed and there are still many hot spots and stumps burning in the ground. The needle litter is igniting and will carry the fire to anything it can contact.

New phase begins in Bastrop rebuilding

2011-10-03T20:25:00.002-04:00

Officials roll out programs to clean up areas

Updated: Monday, 03 Oct 2011, 10:37 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 03 Oct 2011, 10:33 AM CDT

BASTROP, Texas (KXAN) - A new phase is beginning in Bastrop County as residents continue work to rebuild.

Officials are rolling out programs to clean up the areas affected by the wildfires.

Residents can now drop off debris along the sidewalks in front of their properties, and crews will pick it up.

Officials are also assessing the damage to the area's natural resources, all while firefighters remain on guard with these dry conditions.

2011-10-02T10:07:00.000-04:00

Many thanks to the thousands of volunteers that have and are helping us. We feel your efforts are much more than a minimum wage estimate. We know that weather you help 1 hr, 1 day,1 week or more that the time you give is PRICELESS!!!!!!!!

At the present time here in Bastrop, TX at the Bastrop Church of Christ there is only two full time mission groups that are helping. Disaster Relief(Nashville) is providing part of the supplies and Disaster Assistance CoC is working onsite 24/7 with the Elders on all phases of this relief effort(homeowner fire damage cleanup, meal prep, supply distribution and all volunteer coordination for these efforts). Like at our past mission works we plan on being here as long as the Elders of Bastrop CoC feel we are needed.

I also want to thank the Elders and the members here at Bastrop CoC for all there help and support. So many of them are here everyday to make sure things are running smoothly. Also many other churches have sent volunteers, supplies and funds to help this work Thank You Thank You Thank You.

As always we still need three things:

Your Prayers
Volunteers
Funds

We have around 70 volunteers here helping today.

2011-10-01T14:47:00.002-04:00

Most of this group is from Texas A&M

Group siging in before they go out to help homeowners cleanup fire damage

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,Tx-Photo below is volunteers getting ready to start cleanup of burned house.

2011-09-30T21:35:00.002-04:00

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,TX-

2011-09-29T11:16:00.002-04:00

Below photo is a group of volunteers getting their equipment before heading out to help homeowner cleanup fire damage. You to can come and help.

-Disaster Assistance-Bastrop,TX-Today we received another semi load of supplies.

2011-09-27T14:16:00.002-04:00

Bastrop, TX

2011-09-26T17:27:00.000-04:00

Sysco brought us a ref-truck and left it here for us to use. Having them deliver supplies saves me about 2 hours a day that I don't have to go to Walmart or Sams.

2011-09-25T10:37:00.003-04:00

Cleanup work is starting off very slowly. The heat may have something to do with it. Weather forecast today says it will be 101 here in Bastrop, Tx. We have served 3772 meals and over 700 families have been help at the distribution center here at Bastrop CoC.

Disaster Assistance-Bastrop, TX

2011-09-22T11:25:00.000-04:00

As of last night 650 families have been help here at the Bastrop CoC distribution center.

Well mans best friend will be eating good. We just received 30 pallets of dog food.

2011-09-21T15:16:00.002-04:00

Volunteers from League City CoC. They came and helped us in all areas today.

2011-09-19T18:30:00.002-04:00

Photo below is of the new tent just setup to store furniture in until families can use it.

2011-09-19T15:04:00.002-04:00

Disaster Assistance Bastrop, TX

2011-09-18T20:27:00.003-04:00

We served 506 meals today. Photo below is of the singing service that was attended by many area churches here at Bastrop CoC tonight.

Re-Arranging the distribution center

2011-09-17T12:38:00.003-04:00

260 Meals served yesterday and a 70'x30' tent setup to store supplies

2011-09-17T06:39:00.002-04:00

Registration Desk Here at Bastrop CoC

2011-09-16T17:48:00.002-04:00

Don's Devotional

2011-09-16T15:42:00.002-04:00

It is written, "For unto us was the gospel preached as well as unto them, but the word preached did not profit them not being mixed with faith in them that heard it". James describes faith as obedient, caring, working faith. James 2:14-24. We can determine to grow in faith as we strive to know the "Great I Am" thru His word in the bible. This determinate study can help us know God and to know He knows us. Ps.139:10&23. Phil.3:10. Obedient, caring working faith...It is written, " For it is. God which works in you, both to will to do His good pleasure". What an honor! What a privilege!

2011-09-15T18:40:00.002-04:00

Well we got everything setup here at the Bastrop CoC. A lot of families got to go back to see there homes for the first time today. Now the cleanup begins.

2011-09-14T19:05:00.000-04:00

We have served 1500 meals so far. Tomorrow we will be moving everything to the Bastrop CoC. They received another semi load of food and other supplies today. We need your help.

2011-09-13T15:24:00.001-04:00

I have been trying to get things setup to better help everyone. I am going to be moving our mobile headquarters to the Bastrop Church of Christ in Bastrop, TX on Thursday. Starting this Friday we will be able to use volunteers there to do many different things (meal prep, supply distribution, help people clean there homes and deliver meals out into the community. ...Just let me know when you want to come and how many is coming. If you want to spend the night bring air mattress or cot, there is men's and lady's shower. When you get there just check in with me at the Disaster Assistance Mobile Headquarters.
Address is 287 FM 20, Bastrop TX.

2011-09-13T07:49:00.000-04:00

I took below photo with my phone on the way to Bastrop it was a chocolate factory

2011-09-11T19:11:00.005-04:00

Just finished meeting with Elders at Bastrop CoC. We are going to start providing meals for them tomorrow and they are going to start compiling information for us about individuals that need help cleaning up their homes so we can send volunteers out.

2011-09-11T16:19:00.002-04:00

Just had meeting with Fire Department Bastrop Co.(Smithville, TX) and starting tomorrow we will be providing 100 dinners for them each evening in edition to the other meals we are doing.

2011-09-11T13:00:00.003-04:00

Photo below is the list that is posted on the wall daily where families find
out weather there home has been burned by the fires.

2011-09-10T21:49:00.001-04:00

Photos below are of the registration desk handled by the Texas Guard and of people having lunch here at the Rec Center. Everyone one staying here at the center must wear special wrist band that is scanned when they enter and leave building.

2011-09-10T17:51:00.002-04:00

Today we served 500 meals to Fire Fighters, Emergency Personal, Police, People affected by fires and volunteers. We had aprox. 50 volunteers helping with meals,
the Rec Center and at the Distribution Center. Very busy day. We need your help with
funds to keep this work going.

Texas Fires Update

2011-09-09T20:33:00.001-04:00

I have arrived in Smithville, TX. We have the mobile headquarters setup at the
Rec. Center in Smithville, 106 Royston. I have been in meetings the past 5 hrs
getting updated on what the needs are. We can use volunteers starting tomorrow
and lasting for several weeks. If you or a group would like to come just send me
email with the dates and how many will be coming. We also will be cooking meals
for Fire Fighters, Emergency Personal, Police, People affected by fires and volunteers (breakfast, lunch and dinner) so we are going to be busy.

Here are the three things we need Prayers, Volunteers and Funds to keep this work
going.

Don’s Devotional
Personal evangelism can be more than just door knocking, more than teaching a bible lesson, more than visitation. For me personal evangelism is caring and sharing the gospel at every opportunity. It has been said, "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care, and they don't know how much you care until they know how much you share." It is written, "Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward". God can do great things with just a small drink of water and God can do great things with my little.

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, ..." Matt. 25:35

Thanks in advance for all your help

Texas Fires

2011-09-07T21:55:00.001-04:00

The need in Smithville, We are going to provide lunches this Saturday than on Sunday it will be breakfast and dinner. A number of churches and other businesses are providing them now. I will be meeting with the area command center and deciding how to proceed. They have 120 people staying at the Rec Center now and that number is expected to go up to 250 as they move more people in from other shelters.

Tuscaloosa

2011-09-02T09:02:00.000-04:00

On going work in Tuscaloosa-Kerry Richardson
Was privileged yesterday to spend some time at noon attending a ribbon cutting for the first Habitat for Humanity house completed in Holt. The Central and Northport congregations furnished the appliances for the home and helped with organizing the food. This is but one of the HfH houses we will be helping with says Kerry

Don's Devotional

2011-08-31T13:51:00.000-04:00

It is written, "Say not there are four months and then comes the harvest"? Beholds I say unto you lift up your eyes and look on the fields, the are white already to harvest. At harvest, there will be a joyous reunion...we will know each other. Named Saints will be there. Heb.12:1, Luke 16:25. We will live in a Jesus prepared place. John 14:1-6. We will have a new body. I Corinthians 15:52. Let's encourage each other. "This little Christian Light of mine, I'm going to let it shine".

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-28T19:55:00.002-04:00

Today was a very ruff day trying to get around and access the needs. Being a Sunday and also lots of people that were evacuated were not back yet. Also I have been over and under downed power lines and trees across the road plus roads flooded. So far I have met with leaders in Wilmington and Jacksonville, NC. I finally made it to VA where I will be accessing the needs in Norfolk, Newport News and Hampton VA tomorrow.

2011-08-27T15:12:00.001-04:00

Well I have a little more information. I have been in contact with the preacher at Pine Valley CoC most of the day and he has been talking with city officials. Everyone is in agreement that the damage is worse in northern NC. I have talked with preacher at Roosevelt Drive CoC in Jacksonville, NC. The weather is still to bad there for me to go there yet. They will call me and let me know when to head that way. One man there in Jacksonville went outside, a tree fell on him and killed him. Death total is already 5.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T08:57:00.001-04:00

I just talked to the preacher at Pine Valley CoC in Wilmington, NC. They lost power there about 2 hours ago. Irene made landfall about 60-75 miles north of there. I am about 200 miles west and am going to start that direction will call when I am 100 miles away to get another update.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-24T15:19:00.002-04:00

In preparation for the storm, I have had contact with many churches along the east coast. One of the 1st possibilities is the Wilmington, NC area. If we are needed there we will be working with Pine Valley Church of Christ.

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-22T10:35:00.001-04:00

We are watching Hurricane Irene, as you can see from the cone below landfall could be anywhere along the eastcoast. As soon as I have a better idea where landfall will be I will be heading that way. I will stop far enough away to be safe but close enough to get there a few hours after landfall. If you have a RV or camper and would like to go and be part of our 1st Response Team please let me know. We need your help!!!

Don's Devotional....

2011-08-17T13:19:00.002-04:00

It is written, This is a faithful saying and these things I would that you affirm constantly that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. " Doors of receptivity are opened by our willingness to share and to care because people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Indianapolis--4 dead, more than 40 injured as State Fair stage collapses

2011-08-14T07:19:00.002-04:00

Don's Devotional....

2011-08-11T21:34:00.001-04:00

It is written, you are the light of the world....Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven. "In my world today, something is going to shine, something is going to stand out, something is going to make a lasting impression for good or bad, something is going to influence. Why not my light? Why not me?

Final Tuscaloosa Update

2011-08-04T08:09:00.001-04:00

Below is the final recap of work that has been done here in Tuscaloosa.
-Over 150 Bible Studies Setup
-12 Baptisms
-42,866 Meals Served
-Over 800 families helped with cleanup(chainsaw and other work)
-Many Many loads of other food, water and supplies handed out.
-Church building is completely torn down and hauled away in trucks.
-Furniture and Appliances still being handed out.

Please pass this information on to everyone on your email and Facebook list , take it to your church and business, you never know who might be willing to help us. Please pray for the thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed and for us as we show the love of the Lord to them by just providing a simple meal.

Thanks so much to all of you. We are only able to do this work of helping people whose lives have been devastated by disasters only with the physical and financial support of our brothers and sisters across the U.S.

Update From Central Church of Christ-Tuscaloosa

2011-08-02T22:00:00.002-04:00

Update July 27

It has been such a blessing for Tuscaloosa to have to have all of the support from across the country.

We have contacts of over 3500 individuals who we have been able to serve. While some of the disaster relief efforts will cease eventually, we will shift our focus toward meeting spiritual needs and offering Bible studies to all we have made contact with over the past few months.

We will update the photos soon. If it has been a while since you have been to Tuscaloosa, you may be suprised by the progress.

We will soon begin to rebuild. Please pray for us as we go through this process and the challenges that come with it.

Progress Report
There is a long road ahead, but so far, this experience has been more encouraging for us as Christians in Tuscaloosa than anyone could imagine. Never did we realize the amount of support we would receive from our brothers and sisters throughout the brotherhood. The Church has now accomplished many things in this community to further the Kingdom including hundreds of Bible studies and multiple baptisms so far. We shall continue to press forward. None of this would have been possible without the Lord working through your hearts.

We love you with the love of the Lord,
-The Central Church of Christ of Tuscaloosa Alabama

2011-07-25T09:51:00.000-04:00

Burrell & Joe making turkey wraps

2011-07-25T09:46:00.002-04:00

2011-07-22T22:34:00.000-04:00

Kerry Richardson
Weary workers from Winston-Salem, NC and St. Augustine, FL will be leaving us tomorrow... and we will welcome a group from Fort Worth tomorrow evening, a group from Marietta, Ga on Sunday, and a group from Ocala, FL Monday. Plans right now will be to work on Thursday afternoon and shut down this phase of our tornado relief efforts.

Received semi load of furniture form Disaster Relief Nashville today.

2011-07-22T09:56:00.002-04:00

2011-07-19T13:57:00.001-04:00

Lroy Hill Coffee Co. brought us a semi load of supplies today and is leaving the 53' trailer for us to use as storage.

2011-07-19T13:54:00.001-04:00

2011-07-16T13:24:00.001-04:00

Kerry Richardson
Bid farewell to two groups from the Dallas area yesterday... and had a group come down from Midway (Jasper, AL) on Wednesday. Good week with a lot of terrific things accomplished. Looking forward to having groups from Winston-Salen (NC), St. Augustine (FL), and Paris (TN) coming in over the next few days. Two more weeks of work to go... please continue to keep the efforts in your prayers.

2011-07-12T10:21:00.000-04:00

2011-07-12T10:17:00.000-04:00