By Rick Hillard

2019 has proven to be a year that will be etched in memory for a lifetime. Memories of our team united with one goal in mind – to do God’s work by reaching out to victims whose lives have been turned upside down by disaster. Memories of pranks pulled on each other on callouts and laughing so hard our sides hurt, just being one big family of God.

Showing victims not only are we united with each other as a team, but that we work with one goal in mind. We offer Help, Healing and Hope to victims affected by a disaster. And we do it all in Jesus’ name.

Your disaster relief teams have helped with both in state and out of state callouts this year, helping numerous families. One lady comes to mind from Culver, Indiana. She is a widow that had an estimated $35,000 worth of tree damage in her yard from a storm. Living on a fixed income, she had no way of being able to pay to have it removed. She did not know what to do, but Indiana Baptist Disaster Relief arose to the occasion and was able to take that burden away. Another lady near Bloomfield, Indiana had half of the roof taken off of her house, and she was still living in it. Again, through Disaster Relief, Indiana Baptists served freely allowing her to be able to stay in her home. Time and time again we see our DR Volunteers offering a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name, (Matthew 10:42).

Disaster Relief truly becomes the hands and feet of Jesus, offering a helping hand to those in need, and you were a part of it! Even though many of you were not “on location” if your church gives through the Cooperative Program then you were a part! The Cooperative Program is the missional giving plan of Southern Baptists and fuels everything we do. Without the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists would accomplish little.

During the year 2020, as part of the Mile Markers 2025 vision that our Executive director is leading us through we plan to focus on the Cooperative Program. We’d love to share with your church or ministry group all about the Cooperative Program; How it works and what it does is truly amazing. Why not host a Cooperative Program Sunday at your church? I’d love to come and help. So, if you are interested let’s talk about it.