Posted: 11/11/05
Hurricane response funds put to use
By John Hall
Texas Baptist Communications
The Baptist General Convention of Texas continues to distribute funds to support Texas Baptists' response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Texas Baptists gave nearly $3.5 million to the Baptist General Convention of Texas for hurricane response ministries. The state convention set aside another $1 million specifically to help Louisiana congregations.
Texas Baptist churches, associations and individuals have received more than $500,000 to reimburse their shelter and recovery efforts. Much of those funds have been used in Southeast Texas, the region hit hardest by Hurricane Rita.
Nearly 14,000 people were housed in 113 Texas Baptist churches following Katrina and Rita. Baptists continue ministering to those evacuees who have chosen to stay in Texas by finding them housing and jobs.
“The response of Texas Baptists to the disasters of 2005 has been nothing short of miraculous,” said BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade.
“We have given more, more people have gone to help, more ministries have been given in Christ's name than ever in our history. God bless Texas Baptists.”
More than $500,000 was used by Texas Baptist Men feeding, childcare, chainsaw and clean-out crews in Texas and Louisiana.
TBM has provided more than 500,000 meals in Texas alone and continues serving in both states.
BGCT-affiliated institutions provided key ministry following the storms, said Keith Bruce, who leads the BGCT institutional ministries team.
They reacted quickly to meet the needs of people around them.
“All of our institutions stood by and were ready to assist with hurricane relief needs,” he said. “Each one found a way to serve people in their time of need.”
The convention allocated $350,000 to Baptist Child & Family Services to help cover the cost of church-based shelters in San Antonio for special-needs evacuees. Six shelters sponsored by the agency ministered to about 600 special-needs individuals.
Buckner Baptist Benevolences received $200,000 for its efforts in providing supplies to those affected by Katrina and Rita.
The Dallas-based organization supplied more than 12,000 shoes to Katrina victims and vast amounts of clothing, hygiene products and nonperishable food to evacuees from both storms.
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