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KBC Sending Relief Team to Philippines
10/06/2009
MANILA, Philippines – The Kentucky Baptist Convention is mobilizing a disaster relief team to provide humanitarian assistance for those affected by the recent typhoon in the Philippines.
According to Coy Webb, disaster relief associate for the KBC, a team of five Kentucky Baptist volunteers will serve in Manila from Oct. 7-17. The team’s primary responsibility will be to assist with cleanup and recovery, but the group will also be “training Filipino Baptists in disaster relief ministry so they can continue the work when we leave,” said Webb.
“We’ve heard reports that there are over 1.2 million homes damaged or destroyed in the Manila area and approximately 400,000 left homeless at the current time,” he said. “Our desire is to minister with compassionate help and to bring the hope of our Savior to those left devastated by these tragic storms.”
In addition to Webb, the Kentucky team includes Ray Fultz of Frankfort, Dovie Smallwood of Frenchburg, Bill Kramer of Henderson, and Bernard Randall of Monticello.
The effort is being coordinated by Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist global relief and development organization, along with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board and North American Mission Board.
According to Jim Brown, U.S. director for Baptist Global Response, the Kentucky team will be joined by Southern Baptist volunteers from Texas and Oklahoma.
Webb is unsure how long the entire relief effort will last after the teams have finished their work.
Funding for the relief effort in Manila is being provided through the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund. Information about how to contribute to the World Hunger Fund is available at www.kybaptist.org/hunger.
Kentucky Baptists are part of a larger network of Southern Baptist volunteers trained to respond to disasters by manning mass feeding operations, using chainsaws to clear downed trees and limbs, clear mud out of flooded homes and more. Together, Southern Baptists compose the third largest relief organization in the United States. Baptist Global Response is a global relief and development organization of the Southern Baptist Convention.
To learn more about Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief, go to www.kybaptist.org/dr.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention is a cooperative missions and ministry organization made up of nearly 2.400 autonomous Baptist churches in Kentucky. A variety of state and worldwide ministries are coordinated through its administrative offices in Louisville, including: missions work, disaster relief, ministry training and support, church development, evangelism and more. For more, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Release prepared by Kristie Randolph, KBC Communications
