BAPTISTS RESPOND TO DISASTERS IN THE

UNITED STATES

Baptists were among the many groups that responded to the series of disasters affecting parts of the United States. Over several months, multiple wildfires burned in a number of western states, including Idaho and California, consuming hundreds of thousands of acres, destroying homes and businesses and endangering others. In California alone, more than 1,500 firefighters battled the flames at one time, supported by aerial firefighting through the use of aircraft. In August, prolonged rainfall caused historic

flooding in the state of Louisiana, submerging thousands of houses and businesses, forcing thousands of people to escape the damage. This followed widespread and damaging floods in the Houston area of Texas earlier in the year. Tornadoes touched down in a number of Southern and Midwestern states, levelling dwellings and devastating communities. Dozens of lives have been lost and thousands have been displaced from their homes. Damage has been estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Baptists responded through cleanup activities and the provision of meals, clothing and other supplies, temporary shelter, chaplaincy services and trauma counseling. In light of the spate of natural crises, a number

of groups made preparations to continue their relief and recovery activities through October or beyond.

Among the responders were North Carolina

Baptist Men and Women’s Disaster Relief Ministry, Texas Baptist Men and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. The National Baptist Convention of America

(NBCA) and Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission Society partnered with the American Red Cross to form a Disaster Services Network (DSN), wherein Lott Carey and NBCA helped vulnerable communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from these and other largescale disasters. The DSN aims to educate congregations and communities toward effective disaster prepared- ness, encourage congregations to recruit and train volunteers to participate in disaster response, recruit churches to become certified shelters for vulnerable populations, provide spiritual care and case management in communities of color and facilitate effective church and community philanthropy in response to disasters.

Children being feted by Christian groups in Rio de Janeiro during the Summer Olympics

(Photo courtesy of Open Arms Movement)

BAPTISTS JOINED OTHERS IN MISSION DURING RIO SUMMER GAMES

Baptists, along with other Christian traditions in Brazil, engaged in mission outreach to the city of Rio de Janeiro and its visitors during the 2016 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. The Olympic Games formally ran from August 5-21 while the Paralympics was held September 7-18. More than 11,000 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees participated in the Summer Olympics. Dubbed Open Arms Movement (Movimento Braços Abertos) or MBA, the mission initiative sought to connect and coordinate “the involvement of evangelical churches and agencies in the proclamation of gospel before and during the great sport events that will take place in the city of Rio de Janeiro in 2016.” Declaring that “the Body of Christ will have a unique opportunity,” persons were encouraged to volunteer through prayer, training, giving and active witnessing.

It was a “unique opportunity to do missionary work or cross-cultural evangelism . . . and to proclaim the love of God in a culturally relevant way for those who are coming from other countries, including those countries considered closed to the gospel,” the planners stated.

In preparation, prayer vigils were held on the second Friday of each month. “Christians from different churches, evangelical organizations and missionary agencies [gathered] at the sanctuary of a different church denomination.” Vigils were held throughout the night, from 10:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. “We pray for Rio de Janeiro city and state, Brazil, and everything else we are going to do,” the organizers stated. Participating groups included the Carioca (City of Rio) Baptist Convention, part of the Brazilian Baptist Convention, the Salvation Army, the Assemblies of God, other Christian traditions, mission agencies, parachurch groups and Christian athletes’ organizations. MBA reported that during the Olympic Games, “more than 1,500 volunteers shared the love of God with more than one hundred thousand people.” The group insisted that though the Olympics were over, the work was not. “The nations are still in need of our intercession. You can contribute to the formation of a new generation of intercessors of the church, teaching children to pray by the people.” Baptist church groups from outside Brazil, such as the Seventh Day Baptist Missionary Society and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church (FMBC) in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States, also planned short term mission trips to Rio to coincide with the Games. “We are having an amazingly awesome time here in Rio witnessing for Jesus

as well as attending some Olympic events,” said Patricia Smith of FMBC. “We did prayer walks in favela neighborhoods. Our sports coordinator led various games. We are going to Copacabana Beach to share the gospel.”

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