TBM responding to disasters from North Texas to the Valley

LANCASTER—Texas Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers are preparing 300 meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner for Lancaster-area residents affected by tornadoes that moved through the Dallas-Fort Worth area Tuesday afternoon.

Texas Baptist Men disaster relief volunteers Freddie Ransom (center) from FBC Sunnyvale serves with Karl Walden (left) from Wildwood Baptist Church in Mesquite and David Current from Northside Baptist Church in Mesquite. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

The meals prepared by volunteers with the Dallas Baptist Association Unit are feeding families whose homes were damaged, as well as personnel and volunteers responding to the devastation left by the storms.

The team first was asked to respond about 5 p.m. on April 3. By 7:30 p.m., the group had prepared its first batch of meals.

"The Lord commands us to take care of others and serve him in any way we can," unit coordinator Bill Gresso said. "I'm not a preacher. I can't preach. But I can cook. So, that's what I do."

The unit will continue serving as long as needed. TBM has called out two chainsaw teams to Forney and three to Lancaster.

About 650 homes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area were damaged by 18 tornados.

George Felkner from Mimosa Lane Baptist Church in Mesquite serves in Lancaster with Texas Baptist Men disaster relief. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

Sign up for our weekly edition and get all our headlines in your inbox on Thursdays Email Address Karl Walden from Wildwood Baptist Church in Mesquite works with Texas Baptist Men disaster relief, unloading food at the Lancaster Recreation Center. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

As TBM has ramped up service in North Texas, it has wound down ministry in Devine and continues serving in McAllen.

A clean-out team and a box team are ministering in McAllen where hailstorms and strong winds damaged about 1,100 buildings March 29. Additional teams will begin serving in the area Monday.

Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen has been a key partner in TBM's work in the area, said Robert Cepeda, Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association director of missions. Despite having sustained damage to its facilities, the congregation combed about a 50-block area near the church seeing what needs people had. Church members found 60 homes that needed some sort of assistance.

TBM is focusing its efforts on people who do not have insurance and are struggling to recover. One woman made a profession of faith as a result of TBM's work.

Freddie Ransom from First Baptist Church in Sunnyvale serves with Texas Baptist Men disaster relief, cooking meals for people in a shelter at the Lancaster Recreation Center. (PHOTO/John Hall/BGCT)

Additional volunteers and teams are needed to help in the area—for one day, a weekend or longer, Cepeda said.

Tornados in Devine and Natalia damaged 38 structures March 19, including 17 that were destroyed. TBM provided chainsaw teams, a shower unit, a skid-steer loader and a man-lift. Area Baptists also pitched in to help those in need.

"It was encouraging to see how planning and training pays off as organizations sprang to life to provide help," said Jimmy Smith, director of missions of Frio River Baptist Association. "We can be proud of our local churches, their pastor and leaders.  They were on the ball; pitching in to do what was needed to be done."

First Baptist Church in Devine is coordinating volunteers who wish to help in the area. Call (830) 663-4408.

Joe Detterman, TBM's disaster relief coordinator, said people want to know why individuals would offer to help someone else for free.

"They always wonder why," Detterman said. "The teams have the chance to tell them why. That's the big motivator. This gets us in places where we may normally not be welcome. It gives us a chance to give a witness."

TBM's disaster relief ministry is supported by designated gifts. To support TBM financially, visit www.texasbaptistmen.org or mail checks, payable to "Texas Baptist Men" and designated for disaster relief, to 5351 Catron, Dallas 75227

Texas Baptists Disaster Response gifts to the Baptist General Convention of Texas will fund ministry following natural disasters, including TBM. To give through the convention, visit www.texasbaptists.org/give.

Texas Baptist personnel also are in areas affected by the tornados discovering ways congregations and teams can respond to the tornados. Local volunteers from congregations already are beginning to connect with Red Cross efforts. To view the most up-to-date mission opportunities, visit www.texasbaptists.org/disaster.

This story will continue to be updated as new information is available.