2017 Disaster Relief Award Recipients

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1 Bringing Help, Hope, & Healing Summer Disaster Relief Award Recipients Two of this year s South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief (SCDR) awards were presented at the spring training events. The remaining two will be presented in the fall. The Watson Award was given posthumously to Steve Foster for personifying a lifetime of service in Disaster Relief ministry. Steve passed away in September, 2016 at the age of 66. He had been involved in DR since its beginnings in our state, serving on many trips with the chainsaw unit of Concord Baptist Church, Anderson. Steve was also instrumental in developing SCDR s communications capabilities, including the installation of the ham radio station at the convention building in Columbia. Steve was always ready to respond when needed in DR, often serving behind the scenes and under the radar. He was nominated for the Watson Award by George Kay, who said, He has been a very special friend, and an extreme role model and mentor to me and many others. The award was accepted in Steve s memory by his wife, Kathy Foster, pictured here with George Kay (left) and SCDR Director Randy Creamer. The Tommy Thompson Memorial Award was presented to Wendy Gable for leading by example in the smaller membership/rural areas of South Carolina. A member of First Bethany Baptist Church in McCormick, Wendy serves with the Edgefield Association s recovery unit and has primarily done mud-outs. Wendy is pictured here with her pastor, John Alexander, Jr., who nominated her for the award. He says, Wendy is constantly putting others first, whether it be in a local setting, a church event, or a Disaster Relief trip. She seeks the good of the Kingdom and others before herself. Wendy is a tireless worker. But her greatest asset has been encouraging others to take part in DR. After she gave her testimony in church about her DR service, the church s pool of DR volunteers increased from 4 to 15 quite the large number for a small congregation! ************* The Watson Award was named for Choice and Grace Watson, pioneers in the start-up and growth of DR in South Carolina. The Tommy Thompson Memorial Award was named for the associational DR director who was a stalwart in rural Williamsburg Association. Congratulations to these award winners. We thank God for your service!

2 Since the flood of 2015, SC Disaster Relief s RebuildSC initiative has repaired 236 homes in the lower Pee Dee area from Florence to Georgetown, providing homeowners with solid, safe places to live and a gospel witness from those that served. The RebuildSC coordination/housing site in Johnsonville has now been closed. We are deeply grateful to the First Baptist Church of Johnsonville for turning over their facilities to RebuildSC for 21 months! The focus of our rebuild efforts has now shifted to the area of Nichols, Mullins, and Marion. Unlike Johnsonville, there is not one central RebuildSC coordination/housing site in Marion County. Instead, teams are being housed in one of four different churches in the area, depending on various scheduling factors. Volunteer teams are still needed. Disaster Relief training is not required. Each group needs to have one or two crew chiefs with construction skills, and each group should bring their own cooks and groceries for meals. Jobs, tools, and materials are provided. The work may include sheetrock, flooring, roof work, ramps, and more. This is a great mission trip bring a group from your church, to help rebuild a home and influence a family for Christ! For more information or to volunteer for RebuildSC, contact Jack McCormick, RebuildSC Coordinator, at A youth group works together to replace sheetrock in a Nichols home. SurvivorCare Efforts Result in Church Plant For over a year, volunteer Disaster Relief chaplains Jim and Nancy Ramey returned almost weekly from their home in the upstate to the Johnsonville RebuildSC site to provide spiritual and emotional care to survivors of the flood and hurricane. They spent time with the survivors- listening to their stories, caring, and sharing the hope that Christ gives. After a few months of building relationships, the chaplains were able to start several home Bible studies with small groups of area residents. Local pastor David Dinkins of Center Baptist Church, Hemingway, SCBC church planter Keith Lancaster, and Director of Missions Wil Bradham of the Southeast Baptist Association were also involved. When one of the Bible study members accepted Christ as Savior, Keith performed her baptism at Center Baptist. The DR chaplains, family members, and other Bible study members joyfully looked on as G followed Christ in baptism! The Lord opened the door for G s Bible study group to move from meeting on a porch to a small church building that had been unused for about ten years. As time went by and the group thought of that building as their church, it was decided to begin having worship services on a regular basis, and Little Pee Dee Church was born! Praise the Lord for all those that invested their time and effort, resulting in new life in Christ and an ongoing new church! Rev. David Dinkins, Johnsonville residents G and J, and SCBC church planter Keith Lancaster post a sign for the new church plant, June 2017.

3 This meeting is for all Unit Leaders (blue hats) and will include information and training. Date: Aug. 29, 2017 Time: 10:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (lunch included) Location: SCBC, 190 Stoneridge Dr., Columbia, SC Cost: No fee to attend! Annual Unit Leader Update Meeting Pre-registration required: call or EARLY-BIRD SESSION: Basic training for NEW Unit Leaders 8:00-10:15 a.m. and 2:00-4:00 p.m. (both sessions required) By pre-approval only -- current Unit Leaders or DOMs please recommendations to Returning Unit Leaders are welcome to attend as a refresher. SC Disaster Relief Task Force The DR Task Force consists of a person from each DR ministry area, to serve as an advisory group to the director in leading SC Disaster Relief. Often Task Force members also serve as the trainer in their ministry area at the state-wide training events. Over the past year, a few of our Task Force members have stepped down, some for health reasons, some due to church and home responsibilities, and so on. All of them plan to continue to serve in DR ministries as they can and as the Lord leads. When you see them at trainings or on responses, please thank them for all they have done and continue to do for the Lord! We are extremely grateful for the years of service and leadership given by David Carver (mud-out), Robert Causey (feeding), George Poepping (chaplaincy), and Natalie Poepping (training and administration). We are pleased to announce that the following volunteers have been led by the Lord to join the Task Force, all of them already very involved in DR ministries and highly qualified to serve in this role: David Branton of Crossroads Community Church, Summerville feeding Phil Bryson of Beaverdam Baptist, Mountville chaplaincy Joy Canupp of First Baptist, Ft. Mill children s response Avery Fox of First Baptist, Clinton mud-out David Branton, feeding Phil Bryson, chaplaincy Joy Canupp, Children s Response Teams Avery Fox, mud-out

4 Fall 2017 Disaster Relief Training October (Friday-Saturday) OR October 14 (Saturday only) White Oak Conference Center, Winnsboro C O N F E R E N C E S C H E D U L E NOTE: This tentative schedule is subject to change. Check the website ( for updates. Friday Schedule 4:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Check-In/Registration Disaster Relief Store Open ID Station open for Returning Volunteers Only 6:00 p.m. Supper 7:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Training Classes Introduction to Disaster Relief * Administration for Units Children s Response Unit Leaders Discussion with the Director Earthquake Awareness Feeding (for NEW Feeding Volunteers) OSFA (Operational Stress First Aid) Shower/Laundry 9:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. DR Fellowship Schedule Notes: * Required for all NEW volunteers. ID badges will be made as part of the class. ** Both classroom and lab are required for Chainsaw. *** This class requires attendance at both sessions to receive complete credit. BACKGROUND SCREENINGS are required for all DR volunteers! All NEW volunteers and any returning volunteers who have not completed a form with us since 2014 need to complete a Background Screening form (included in your training folder). Favorable background screenings are valid for three (3) years. Why a Two-Day Training? Take more classes than at 1-day trainings for the same registration price! (Additional fee for lodging and meals required.) Allows time for fellowship and networking with volunteers from across the state. Saturday Schedule 7:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. Check-In/Registration Disaster Relief Store Open 7:30 a.m. 8:15 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. 1:30 p.m. ID Station Open for Returning Volunteers Only 8:15 a.m. 10:15 a.m. Training Classes Introduction to Disaster Relief * Administration for On-Site Response Mgmt. 1*** Assessment Communications Feeding Refresher (RETURNING Feeding Volunteers Only) OSFA (Operational Stress First Aid) Medical- Trauma Mud-Out/Ash-Out Shower/Laundry 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Training Classes Administration for On-Site Response Mgmt. 2*** Chainsaw Classroom** Children s Response 1 *** Communications Emergency Response Team (ERT) Feeding (for NEW Feeding Volunteers) Medical- Trauma Rebuild Unit Leaders (NEW Unit Leaders by pre-approval only) 12:00 p.m. 1:30 p.m. Rodeo of Units 12:15 p.m. 1:15 p.m. Lunch 1:30 p.m. 2:15 p.m. General Session 2:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. Training Classes Administration for Units Assessment Chainsaw Lab ** Children s Response 2 *** Earthquake Awareness Introduction to Chaplaincy Medical- Trauma Mud-Out/Ash-Out Shower/Laundry 4:30 p.m. Adjourn

5 F a l l 2017D i s a s t e r R e l i e f T r a i n i n g R e g i s t r a t i o n DATE: (Please indicate the conference for which you are registering.) October 14 (Saturday only) White Oak Conference Center, 633 Mobley Hwy, Winnsboro, SC October (Two-Day Training) White Oak Conference Center, 633 Mobley Hwy, Winnsboro, SC Name: Phone: Mailing Address: Zip: Church: Church City: NOTE: If you are registering more than one person, you must include a list of the names of all attending. If lodging is requested, also include roommate preferences and any special needs. M A I L - I N R E G I S T R A T I O N S M U S T B E P O S T M A R K E D B Y T W O W E E K S B E F O R E T H E T R A I N I N G D A T E. CONFERENCE FEES for both training events include: Returning volunteers: registration fee, training materials, background check (if needed) & Saturday lunch New volunteers: Registration fee, training materials, Saturday lunch, hat, lanyard, badge, t-shirt & background check Returning Volunteers $35 x (# of returning volunteers) = $ New Volunteers $50 x (# of new volunteers) = $ LODGING for October Two-Day Training at White Oak: (Includes room, Fri. dinner, & Sat. breakfast) Select room type and attach a list of attendees with roommate preferences: Motel Single ($68.50/person) x (# of attendees) = $ Motel Double ($49.75/person) x (# of attendees) = $ Motel Triple ($43.25/person) x (# of attendees) = $ Motel Quad ($41.25/person) x (# of attendees) = $ Group House ($39.50/person) x (# of attendees) = $ Mail completed form and payment (check payable to SCBC) to: TOTAL DUE = $ South Carolina Baptist Convention, Disaster Relief Office, 190 Stoneridge Drive, Columbia, SC REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS: Registration fees are refundable if cancellation is received 30 days prior to the event. Consideration for partial refunds will be given in cases of illness or a death in the family.

6 SCDR Responses 2017 Most of the responses by SC units in the first half of 2017 have been chainsaw jobs. Some jobs were related to Hurricane Matthew and some to various localized storms around the state, including a small tornado in Newberry, but the majority were in response to the larger April tornado that hit Ward and Johnston. In addition to all the in-state chainsaw work, one mud-out unit has served out of state this year. Ward/Johnston Tornado When the EF2 tornado hit Johnston and Ward in April of 2017, local Disaster Relief (DR) teams deployed immediately to begin helping with clean-up. Members of those local units worked almost daily for the next three weeks. Units from other parts of the state also responded to this disaster, and a total of 34 chainsaw jobs were completed. In some cases it took several days to complete a job because the trees were so massive or because there were so many trees down on one property. One of the first homeowners assisted by the Edgefield Association chainsaw unit was an elderly lady, living alone, who was overwhelmed with the mess in her yard and the tree that had fallen onto her house and through the roof. As the team set to work, she then was overwhelmed in a different way that they would come in and help her at no cost and in Jesus name. The DR Unit Leader listened to her story, gave encouragement, and prayed with her. This scenario played out dozens of times with homeowners across the area as DR units met emotional and spiritual needs as well as providing the physical help of chainsaws and clean-up. Units reported 215 chaplaincy/ministry contacts during this response! Charles Bodie and Mike Berry prepare a Bible to give to a homeowner in Ward, SC. Various other units have performed non-disaster jobs to help clear trees from property and so on. If your unit does a non-disaster job, please report it to the DR office for insurance purposes and so that your team members can be credited with having worked. Brothers Stan (left) and Scott Williamson of the Kingstree First unit size up a job in Lake City, SC. Arkansas Flood The Greenville Association s mud-out unit responded in May to severe flooding in Arkansas. Two other SC units were prepared to follow, but were stood down since the work there was being closed out earlier than expected. Greenville s team of 8 men and 4 women worked on three houses in Pocahontas, AR, removing ruined belongings and tearing out soaked flooring and walls. The best part, according to Unit Leader Jeff Heath, was that we had lots of interaction with the homeowners. At two of the houses, the homeowners were present while the team worked, allowing for plenty of time to build relationships so that they could have that all-important emotional and spiritual influence. And at the third house, although the homeowners had to be at their job while the team worked, the unit chaplain visited with neighbors next door, resulting in one rededication and one salvation decision!

7 Preparing the Next Generation of DR Volunteers It is always delightful to see churches teaching their children about the ministry of Disaster Relief. Our prayer is that this will spark an interest that will influence the children s families to serve in the present and will lead those children to want to become involved in DR in the future. In January of this year, Woman s Missionary Union curriculum featured Disaster Relief. Mission Friends, GA and RA groups learned about DR chaplains and other DR ministries. Some groups had a guest speaker from a local unit in their meeting, or participated in mission projects to support their own church or association s Disaster Relief unit. A Mission Friends group from a church in the Pickens-Twelve Mile Association sent in photos of their simulation experiences in chainsaw and mud-out! February s Children s Ministry Day in the Columbia Metro Association included an overview of Disaster Relief ministries and an opportunity to try on DR gear. Kindergarten children attending Vacation Bible School at Northside Baptist Church (Lexington, SC) learned about Disaster Relief ministries in their Missions rotation class. Thanks to Natalie & George Poepping, Ann & Jim Richardson for interacting with 130 kindergarteners in VBS! Can you tell which DR ministries they represented?

8 Disaster Relief Office 190 Stoneridge Drive Columbia, SC Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 84 Columbia, S.C. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED 2017 Activity Report (as of July 10, 2017) Ministry/Chaplaincy Contacts Bibles/Tracts Distributed Gospel Presentations... 5 Professions of Faith... 2 Assessments Flood Clean-up Jobs/Tasks Chainsaw Jobs Debris Removal Temporary Roofing Jobs... 2 Heavy Equipment Hours Volunteers Trained DR Training Dates Mark your calendar now for these 2018 Training Events: Spring DR Trainings March 17 First Baptist, Walterboro April 21 Mt. Airy Baptist, Easley DR Chaplain Training May White Oak Conference Center, Winnsboro Fall DR Training October 13 First Baptist, Rock Hill This ministry is made possible by the churches of the South Carolina Baptist Convention and their giving through the Cooperative Program to impact the world.