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As always, the disaster was not a respecter of persons or neighborhoods, leaving no one untouched. Many were experiencing one of the biggest crisis of their lives, losing basically all personal property.
Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief sent in chaplains to comfort and encourage the hurting people. On this day, Jerry Parker and Keith Crawford stopped for a visit with widower Rebecca. She welcomed them inside her home where extended family were helping sort through the soppy mess, hoping to salvage as much of her life as possible.
Stepping outside, where stacks of hoped-to-be-saved items filled the carport, Jerry asked Rebecca a question. If she died tonight, and Jesus asked her why He should let her into heaven, what would she say? Rebecca stammered a little, searching for words. She mentioned something about church attendance and a preacher daddy but really didn’t seem to have a clear answer for the pointed question. Jerry shared the Hope of the Gospel, Jesus Christ, with Rebecca and invited her to receive Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Rebecca said, “Yes,” and bowed her head in prayer.
Within a moment, eternity was changed for Rebecca. She became a new creation, and her countenance immediately reflected just that. Tears flowed, and a gentle smile engulfed her weary, lined face. It was a new beginning, a fresh start. What Satan had meant to harm and destroy, God used to bring life and healing.
Arkansas Baptists care about people. This is the reason we pray, give, and go. Sometimes the need is flood remediation, removal of tree limb debris, or a hot meal to get through another long day of trying to bravely put life back together again. Always, Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers go to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ. Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are trained and credentialed, often provided immediate access into areas of crisis where we can meet people at their points of need.
You, too, can become a trained, credentialed Disaster Relief volunteer by attending one of the four regional Disaster Relief training events throughout the state this year. Please prayerfully consider if Disaster Relief is a ministry in which the Lord is calling you to serve.
“Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”
~Mark 10:43-45
Recognized nationally alongside other disaster organizations like the Red Cross and Salvation Army, Disaster Relief is a faith-based organization of trained volunteers who are prepared to bring Help, Healing, and the Hope of Jesus Christ to those directly affected by disasters.
So you want to make a difference in the lives of disaster survivors? We need you on our team!
To become a trained, credentialed Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer, you must first attend one of our regional training events. We typically host five trainings each year, one for every region of the state. See upcoming 2025 training events.
You must be 18 years old and a member of a Southern Baptist church in order to volunteer. For new volunteers, we also require a background check.
Each training event provides an overview of Disaster Relief policies and covers all volunteer disciplines, including Incident Command, chainsaw, chaplaincy, feeding, flood recovery, shower/laundry, and mud-out. You can cross-train in more than one discipline, but you may only train for one discipline at each training event.
Once you receive your credentials in a discipline, you are assigned to a local unit in your area. Your Unit Leader (also known as a Blue Cap) then communicates with your team about deployment opportunities. You are ready to respond!
Have more questions about volunteering? Check out our Volunteer FAQ’s.
8:00am – 4:00pm
A great place to get ready for your multi-choice test is http://www.arrl.org/getting-licensed. Particularly the “Exam Practice” or Taking Practice Exams sections. No test-specific training will be offered during the Disaster Relief training, so please come prepared to test.
Training materials, background check, ID and lanyard, lunch, DR cap
Training materials, background check, ID and lanyard, lunch
In order to renew your credentials, you will need to attend a COMPLETE regional training event, including a discipline class. If you have any questions, please contact Keturah at [email protected]
Training materials and lunch
If your Disaster Relief ID badge is current (not expired), we consider you a Current Volunteer. Current volunteers are the heart of ABSC Disaster Relief. You are the movers and shakers, the ministers of the Gospel of Hope to people experiencing crisis. You have invested your time, resources, and energy into making a difference in the world. We cannot do Disaster Relief without you! Many deployments are exclusively for current volunteers. To stay current, you will need to attend a regional training event the year your Disaster Relief ID expires to update your ID.
We do encourage our amazing Current Volunteers to take advantage of cross-training at the regional training events. This is totally FREE to you! Just register as a Cross-trainer. Cross-training gives you an opportunity to learn about another discipline and be assigned to another team, therefore increasing your deployability. Thank you for your commitment to the relevant ministry of Disaster Relief!
ABSC Disaster Relief teams are made up of credentialed Disaster Relief volunteers. To join a team, register and attend a Regional Training Event. Training event information, dates, and registration are at abscdisasterrelief.org/volunteer
Caring people rushing to people in crisis to offer the help, healing, and hope of Jesus Christ