Disaster relief yields more than 50 professions of faith in Weslaco

WESLACO—More than 50 people professed faith in Christ in Weslaco as a direct result of disaster relief ministry by New Mexico Baptists and Texas Baptist Men—particularly the Christian witness of one woman battling cancer.

When the remnants of Hurricane Patricia swept across South Texas dumping rain on the Rio Grande Valley, about 1,000 homes in Weslaco flooded, “and these had about a foot to four feet of water in them,” said Terry Henderson, TBM disaster relief director.

Gloria Maestas of High Rolls, N.M., writes in a Bible she gives to a resident in Weslaco. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Parker)TBM dispatched an incident management team to Weslaco to facilitate disaster relief and requested a mud-out crew from the Baptist Convention of New Mexico to help.

Twelve days into their two-week deployment, the New Mexico team reported the results of their work. The team had removed sheetrock from eight homes, sanitized three homes with a commercial cleaning agent and completed two emergency roofing jobs and one siding job. 

But Ira Shelton, state disaster relief director for New Mexico Baptists, noted, “The main reason for the call was to report 55 professions of faith.”

One Spanish-speaking team member who had been struggling with cancer—Gloria Maestas of High Rolls, N.M.—led 54 of those Weslaco residents to follow Christ. 

 “In the process of talking with homeowners, God got hold of Gloria,” Shelton said.  

Due to her physical condition, Maestas almost missed the trip to South Texas.

“She’s been sick,” Shelton said. “I really wasn’t sure about sending her.” 

But Shelton overcame his doubts, and he believed God honored her dedication.

“God motivated Gloria and took control over her and led her to people,” he said. “It’s strictly a God thing.”

The team provided the names, addresses and phone numbers of every new Christian to churches, Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association and Texas Baptists’ River Ministry, so local Baptists could follow up after the disaster relief volunteers leave.

As of Nov. 21, Baptist disaster relief volunteers in Weslaco completed 74 mud-out or general clean-up jobs, made 222 ministry contacts and distributed 117 Bibles, said Ralph Rogers of Amarillo, on-site coordinator for the project. 

TBM volunteers provided more than 850 cardboard boxes to homeowners to help them gather scattered possessions. TBM crews also cooked meals and laundered clothes for all the volunteers.

Rogers anticipated TBM’s response in Weslaco will continue after a break for Thanksgiving.

In San Marcos—a response that began Nov. 3—TBM volunteers served in a similar capacity, working to clear mud and debris from flooded homes and cut down damaged trees. 

As of Nov. 21, Rogers said, volunteers in San Marcos had fulfilled 75 mud-out and chainsaw work requests and made more than 800 ministry contacts. At least two people professed faith in Christ.

“I am excited every time I receive a daily report, because I know God has been at work and the teams are having those divine appointments,” Rogers said. “More importantly, they are taking the opportunity to share (with the homeowners) when those opportunities come up.”