Disaster Relief & Recovery

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Disaster Relief postpones March training sessions for Haiti response

Two disaster relief training sessions set for March in Lake City and Punta Gorda have been postponed as Florida Baptist relief teams continue to respond to critical needs in Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Training sessions originally scheduled for March 20 at Gateway Baptist Church in Lake City and March 27 at First Baptist Church in Punta Gorda have been postponed indefinitely, according to Fritz Wilson, director of the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and Recovery Department.

At this time, five other one-day training sessions will go on as scheduled: April 17, San Jose Baptist, Jacksonville; May 1, First Baptist Church Sweetwater, Longwood; May 15, Christ Fellowship Church, Miami (downtown campus); June 5, Cinco Baptist Church, Ft. Walton Beach; and June 26, Idlewild Baptist Church, Lutz.

Florida Baptists may attend events in any location. First-time volunteers are required to attend one of these training sessions to become a credentialed Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteer.

Cost to attend for first time volunteers is $30 per person, which includes training materials, Disaster relief hat, shirt and credential; background check, course instruction and lunch. Cost for returning volunteers is $15. Training sessions begin at 9 a.m. and conclude by 3 p.m. For more information, go to www.flbaptistdisaster.org or www.flbaptist.org/disasterrelief; or email: disaster@flbaptist.org.

This department is assigned to lead the Florida Baptist Convention’s ministry of disaster relief and recovery. This ministry encompasses two emphases. The first aspect is the training of volunteer personnel and the readiness of equipment to respond to the aftermath of a natural disaster. Secondly, following a natural disaster, the department coordinates the deployment of volunteers and support equipment to assist individuals and churches by providing emergency feeding, on-site clean-up and recovery services.

The Disaster Relief Ministry’s goal is to lead Florida Baptists to serve shoulder to shoulder to bring Help, Healing and Hope in Times of Disaster.

Help ~ By ministering to physical needs through removing downed trees from homes, securing tarps over roofs and doing what necessary to make a dwelling safe and secure.

Healing ~ By ministering to emotional needs through spending time with, listening to and caring for disaster survivors.

Hope ~ By ministering to spiritual needs through sharing the gospel by our example, words and literature, and connecting people to local churches.

For more information regarding the Disaster Relief Ministry and how you can become more involved, please visit our NEW website at www.flbaptistdisaster.org.

For more information about training events please contact the Disaster Relief & Recovery Department at 800-226-8584 ext 3121 or go to www.flbaptistdisaster.org.

For more information on any on going relief efforts and how you can be involved, please click here to sign up to receive e-mail updates from Fritz Wilson, State Disaster Relief Director. Please include your name, e-mail address, primary contact number, and church name in your response. In the comment box add: "Please add me to the update list."