Posted: 2/19/04
BGCT, San Antonio Baptists to pilot
volunteer disaster response network
SAN ANTONIO–The Baptist General Convention of Texas plans to launch a disaster response network of trained church members who could respond to psychological and spiritual needs in crisis situations.
The convention is hoping to start regional teams of church members trained by the National Organization for Victim Assistance who could serve in widespread and personal crises such as disasters, unexpected deaths and violent crimes.
Teams will work in concert with Texas Baptist Men's disaster relief efforts and victim relief ministries.
Having quick responders to traumatic situations is critical, said Bobby Smith, director of the BGCT chaplaincy relations office. Crises leave people looking for help.
“Wherever you have a natural or man-made disaster, there will be people in need of support and crisis counseling,” Smith said. “Our goal is to connect people who are prepared to help with people who need help.”
People first experience crises as emotions, according to Jim Young, director of the BGCT Missions Equipping Center.
The faster counselors help them articulate how they feel and what they encountered, the less the chance of those individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder, Young said.
The convention, in partnership with San Antonio Baptist Association, plans to pilot a regional team. Associational staff is writing preliminary materials and encouraging chaplains, ministers and lay leaders to go through NOVA training.
Camille Simmons, coordinator of ministry missions for the association, said leaders are focusing on being prepared for disasters. Prepared individuals respond faster and more effectively.
Training includes how churches can be sites for shelters, medical distribution and counseling.
Members are taught how to best respond in counseling situations as well as how they can meet immediate physical needs.
How the church reacts reflects directly on the Christian faith, Simmons said.
Large groups of people, including non-Christians, turn to the church in times of crisis, she noted. Baptist churches should reach out lovingly in the name of Christ.
“Pastors have to stand in front of a congregation,” she said. “What are they going to say? How are they going to say it?”
Association leaders have become the unifier of the faith community as San Antonio seeks to become better prepared for a disaster as well. The city is networking groups together who could respond to crises.
Through this effort, Baptist organizers made connections with hospitals, city officials, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and leaders of other denominations.
The San Antonio effort is working, Simmons said. Baptist leaders mobilized 1,500 people to minister during the 2002 floods that struck the city.
They have trained about 150 people to work with Texas Baptist Men disaster relief units.
BGCT and San Antonio Association leaders hope the South-Central Texas effort will serve as a model for other regions. The BGCT is seeking to have a team in each association. Several directors of missions attended a NOVA training session.
“San Antonio is the pilot, but we hope it will be used across the state,” Simmons said.
For more information about the emerging network or NOVA training, contact the BGCT chaplaincy relations office at (214) 828-5277.
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