wfn.org | AMERICAN BAPTISTS RESPOND TO HURRICANE

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American Baptists Respond to Hurricane

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

American Baptists Respond to Hurricane Destruction 

by Laura Alden, American Baptist National Ministries
 Three American Baptist regions have requested and 
received relief funds following the recent devastation 
inflicted on the U.S. East Coast by Hurricane Floyd.  Thus 
far a total of $21,000 in undesignated One Great Hour of 
Sharing funds have been released by the American Baptist 
Office of World Relief in conjunction with National 
Ministries' Office of National Disaster Response to address 
initial relief requests. 
 The mid-September storm killed at least 70 people from 
the Bahamas to New England.  Hardest hit was North Carolina 
with more than 40 flood-related deaths.  The 20-plus inch 
rainfall and floodwaters have spawned the worst 
environmental, agricultural and human disaster in the 
state's history with rivers fouled by waste and debris of 
all kinds.  Farm losses are expected to exceed $1 billion 
and uninsured home and vehicle losses are mounting.      
 Responding to a request from the American Baptist 
Churches of the South, $10,000 was released  for recovery 
efforts in Hampton and Franklin, Va., and in Greenville, 
Tarboro, Princeville and Rocky Mount, N.C.  The Rev. Sidney 
Locks, pastor of Cornerstone Memorial Baptist Church, 
Greenville, N.C, reported the nearby town of Princeville to 
be "completely under water."  Founded in 1885 Princeville is 
the oldest African American community in America.  The 
church has deployed relief teams. 
 The Philadelphia Baptist Association has received 
$6,000 for distribution through several churches whose 
members have suffered losses.  These churches include 
Woodland Baptist Church, Philadelphia; Second Baptist 
Church, Doylestown; First Baptist Church of Darby in 
Delaware County; and First African Baptist Church, Sharon 
Hill.  A large number of families in the Sharon Hill 
congregation have been affected by the disaster.
 At least three American Baptist church families in the 
Bound Brook area of New Jersey are among those affected by 
the hurricane disaster, with reports still coming in.  An 
initial grant of $5,000 has been released for use by the 
American Baptist Churches of New Jersey.
 Ken George, director of National Ministries' Office of 
National Disaster Response, reported that the requests for 
aid probably will continue.  "We don't yet know the full 
extent of the suffering from this disaster," he said.  "In 
North Carolina in particular rivers were still rising from 
more rain last week and many roads remained impassable.  
Some people haven't even been able to return to their homes 
to assess the damage.  We will need to continue to offer our 
prayers and help to those affected by this tragedy in the 
weeks to come."
 American Baptists wishing to increase the financial 
support available to respond to Hurricane Floyd may give 
through their local churches to One Great Hour of Sharing 
(using Line 7 of the Monthly Report of Mission Support).  
Contributions should be designated "Hurricane Floyd Relief."  
American Baptist Men of West Virginia is mobilizing its 
disaster relief trailer as flood waters begin to recede.  
National Ministries' Volunteers In Mission office also is 
seeking volunteers to assist in recovery efforts; call 800-
ABC-3USA/ext. 2449 for local contacts.

9/28/99
WFN928A 

 

 

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