The Florida Baptist Disaster Relief (FLDR) ministry is in full swing with upcoming Disaster Relief Training sessions taking place over the next several months. FLDR assists people in crisis following hurricanes, tornados, fires, and flood damage. This ministry was built on a foundation inspired by Matthew 25:40, “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” The mission of the FLDR and Recovery Ministries is to make a difference in times of disaster by connecting Florida Baptist churches and associations to people and communities impacted by disaster and by responding with help, healing, and hope that demonstrates and shares the love of Christ.
Delton Beall, State Director for the FLDR, shared that the “FLDR is a ministry that seeks to make a difference in the lives of those impacted by a crisis. Our whole focus has always been 2 Corinthians 4:5 ‘For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.’ It’s about being a servant. It’s about ministering and serving others, when crises occur.”
Coinciding with the Florida Division of Emergency Management established boundaries, FLDR divides the state into seven regions. The ministry has over 8,000 trained volunteers serving in diverse capacities throughout the regions and, coincidentally, there are several areas of ministry where volunteers may exercise their passion and talents for helping others. Some may feel a calling to help in Administration or Logistics, while some may be better suited for Spiritual Care or Child Care. However, there are many hands-on opportunities such as: Emergency Response, Feeding, Clean Up, and Recovery.
The FLDR allows Florida Baptists to act immediately and effectively, as Jesus did, to help people during turbulent times. When people are hurting because of a disaster, the FLDR responds with love, healing, and help. They simply assist all people in crisis regardless of ethnic background or religious beliefs.
It’s essential for the FLDR to conduct trainings throughout the year not only to serve present needs, but also to recruit and train volunteers in preparation for future adversities. The strategic planning, in-depth training and spiritual foundation, that all takes place at these trainings, makes the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief the go-to faith-based volunteer organization.
“The trainings that we urge you to be a part of will give you the wisdom, insight, and understanding on being the best servant you can be…We encourage you to be prepared, get trained, and then be involved,” said Beall.
The FLDR is always looking for volunteers, as well as donations and prayer. Will you pray, give, or go help the FLDR? To learn more about how you can help in the way of donations, please visit https://flbaptist.org/give/. One-hundred percent of donations go directly towards Disaster Relief efforts. For training dates, locations, and additional details, please click here.