It was 1967 during the aftermath of Hurricane Beulah that Southern Baptist Disaster Relief was birthed by six guys using a buddy burner to heat canned food along the Texas coast to feed survivors. Fast forward 50 plus years, today Southern Baptists have over 1,500 Disaster Relief units strategically situated throughout the United States staffed by trained volunteers prepared to minister to hurting people directly affected by disasters.
Arkansas Baptist State Convention Disaster Relief extends the love of Christ to disaster survivors by preparing hot meals, removing damaging trees and debris, tarping roofs, cleaning up after floods, providing emergency communications, and coordinating our response through incident management teams. Following a common ministry pattern of Jesus Christ, Disaster Relief chaplains and volunteers seek to share God’s grace, hope, and Truth while meeting physical needs. Disaster Relief volunteers, also, provide hot showers and clean laundry to hard working Disaster Relief volunteers. Disaster Relief is a ministry of the heart – caring people going to people in crisis to offer the help, healing, and hope of Jesus Christ.
Randy Garrett, the Disaster Relief Director for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, strategizes and coordinates ABSC disaster response, working alongside other VOADs (Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster). He currently serves on the Governor’s Arkansas Homeland Security Executive Council and Arkansas Area Maritime Security Committee as the representative for non-governmental organizations (NGO) active in disaster response. Randy is also an NGO member of the Electric Infrastructure Security Council, an international group addressing black sky preparedness.
As a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas, with a BSBA in Marketing and Finance, Randy and his wife, Charlotte, have four adult children, ten grandchildren, and one great grandchild. In his leisure time he enjoys outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and hiking.
Greg assists the director with strategies, deployments and support during disasters. Greg joined the organization as a volunteer in 2000 with his first deployment to the World Trade Center disaster followed by many other deployments.
A graduate of Arkansas State University with a degree in Agriculture Business. Greg and his wife Paulette have two children and one grandchild. A deacon at Wooster First Baptist and a Royal Ambassador leader for over 25 years. In his leisure time he enjoys Dutch oven cooking and spending time in the RV.
provide chainsaw services – removing tree limb debris and making temporary and minor structural repairs to homes impacted by disaster. Many chainsaw units also have heavy equipment, such as skid steers and man lifts to assist in tree removal.
01 ABSC – Little Rock
01 UNIT #1 – North Little Rock
02 FORREST CITY – Forrest City
03 NORTH AR – Harrison
04 RED RIVER – Arkadelphia
06 WASHINGTON/MADISON – Fayetteville
08 CAREY – Fordyce
09 CURRENT-GAINES – Corning
10 LIBERTY – El Dorado
11 SOUTHEAST NETWORK – Warren
13 CORNERS CHAPEL – Trumann
01 MOUNT ZION – Jonesboro
02 GEYER SPRINGS FBC – Little Rock
03 TRI-COUNTY – Marion
04 OZARK – Ozark
05 SOUTHEAST NETWORK – Warren
06 CORNERS CHAPEL – Trumann
01 FAULKNER – Wooster
02 STATE – Carlisle
01 ABSC – Little Rock
01 FAULKNER – Conway
02 AR RIVER VALLEY – Russellville
03 SOUTHWEST – Texarkana
04 FIRST CLARKSVILLE – Clarksville
05 WHITE RIVER – Gassville
06 INDIAN SPRINGS BC – Bryant
07 INDEPENDENCE – Batesville
08 NORTHWEST – Siloam Springs
09 HARMONY – Pine Bluff
10 SOUTHEAST NETWORK – Warren
11 ROCKY BAYOU – Franklin
12 LITTLE RIVER – Nashville
14 ARKANSAS VALLEY – West Helena
15 GRAND AVENUE – Fort Smith
16 UNION VALLEY BC – Beebe
17 BLACK RIVER – Hoxie
18 TRI-COUNTY – Marion
19 BALBOA BC – Hot Springs Village
20 CENTRAL BC – Jonesboro
21 CROSS CHURCH – Springdale
22 WALNUT STREET BC – Jonesboro
23 BIG CREEK- Mammoth Springs
24 OUACHITA – Mena
25 CENTENNIAL – Stuttgart
26 VALLEY BC – Searcy
27 NORTH CENTRAL – Clinton
28 FELLOWSHIP – Little Rock
29 STATE FLOOD RECOVERY – Little Rock
30 STATE FLOOD RECOVERY – Little Rock
31 FIRST SOUTHERN BC – Bryant
32 BECKSPUR – Forrest City
33 FIRST RUSSELLVILLE – Russellville
34 GRAVES MEMORIAL – North Little Rock
01 ABSC – Little Rock
02 ABSC – Little Rock
So you want to make a difference in the lives of disaster survivors? We need you on our team!
Caring people rushing to people in crisis to offer the help, healing, and hope of Jesus Christ