NORTH AMERICA: NORTH AMERICANS FORM DISASTER RELLIEF NETWORK
The North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) has established a Disaster Relief Network.
The network, which is still in the process of development, brings member bodies of the NABF together to offer
assistance in instances where disasters occur.
Comprising several Baptist groups in the United States and Canada, such as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,
the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and Canadian Baptist Ministries, the new initiative aims to encourage NABF
members to commit resources to effect disaster relief “without infringing on the mission or autonomy of each.”
Recent disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and fires in California in 2008 and 2009 were catalysts
in leading the various Baptist groups to cooperate and share in disaster planning, as well as in response and recovery
efforts.
One aim of the network is to avoid duplication in disaster response situations. “The ultimate purposes of the NABF
Disaster Response Network are to help those who experience disaster to recover more quickly and effectively and to
promote good stewardship by reducing the risk of duplication of efforts and resources,” the purpose document states.
But the network is not a disaster response organization. Rather, “it is intended to be a dynamic networking of its
member organizations to enhance these bodies to be more effective responding organizations.” It will not infringe on the
autonomy of each member body to respond to disasters as it sees fit.
It will, however, provide “early responders” to disaster areas who are able to “move into the affected location as quickly
as possible after the area has been stabilized and made safe” by “first responders” such as firefighters, search and rescue
teams, law enforcement officers, and utility company personnel. These early responders would assist in providing meals
and clean water to victims, and do recovery and cleanup operations.
It is envisioned that the network will enable the NABF, one of six regional fellowships of the Baptist World Alliance, to
more effectively match volunteers and resources to the level of needs in the aftermath of a disaster, as well as to offer training
and the sharing of expertise among the various Baptist church organizations.
Four meetings of the network have been held thus far, the last of which was on May 6-7 in the state of Virginia in the
United States. The next meeting is scheduled for November in Toronto, Canada.
PHOTOS: Leaders from various Baptist bodies in Canada and the United States discussing the formation of a North
American Disaster Relief Network
CUBA: COFFEY MEETS CUBAN GOVERNMENT MINISTER
Baptist World Alliance President David Coffey met with the Minister of Religious Affairs for the government of Cuba in
Havana in February.
Coffey, who attended the annual assembly of the Baptist Convention of Western Cuba (BCWC), discussed with the minister
the BWA’s plans to hold a Living Water evangelism and leadership training conference in the Caribbean island of 11 million
people. The conference is expected to take place in Havana in early 2010.
During the meeting, which was also attended by Baptist leaders in Cuba, the minister expressed appreciation to Cuban
Baptists for assistance offered to victims of several hurricanes that affected the island in 2008. Several major hurricanes
landed on Cuba during that year, including Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Coffey also shared in a rare joint meeting between the leaders from the four Baptist conventions on the island, the BCWC,
the Baptist Convention of Eastern Cuba, the Fraternity of Baptist Churches of Cuba, and the Free Baptist Convention of
Cuba. Some 30 leaders attended the meeting.
Coffey preached during the celebratory service of the 2009 assembly of the BCWC marking the convention’s 100th
anniversary. Two of the deputies of the religious affairs minister attended the worship celebration.
PHOTO: BWA President David Coffey (fourth from left), and BWA Vice President William Thompson (sixth from left), meet
with Baptist church leaders and government officials in Cuba
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