Gulf States Disaster Relief
 Convention Updates 

Please visit this page often.  The Convention's response to the needs of the people and churches in the Gulf States as a result of the 2005 hurricane season is a work in progress.  New information is published as it become available on this page.  All entries are dated for your reference, beginning with the most recent. 



Quick Links

Use the quick links below to access highlighted resources directly:

• Laymen Cancel March Work Ministry Dates
• Mid Winter Board Session Resolution
• Macedonia Ministry Launches Katrina Relief with Prayer Breakfast 
• Katrina Anniversary: One Year Later! Home Mission Board Report
• Katrina Relief Report - Laymen's Movement
• Gamaliel Foundation Season of Prayer, Reflections and Action for Justice
• Disaster Relief Services and Funding Priorities
• Katrina Volunteer Ministry
• Temporary Housing (Resources Directory)
• Permanent Housing (Housing Ministry)
• Clothing and Other Supplies (Resources Directory)
• Gulf States Message Board--website visitors weigh in on the Gulf States Hurricane Disaster
• Disaster Relief Resource Documents

February 23, 2007

NEWS FLASH!!

MARCH'S WORK DATES IN NEWS ORLEANS CANCELLED!

The dates scheduled dates in March for Katrina Relief work have been cancelled.
Due to housing issues beyond the local hosting committee's control, they must cancel March's efforts.

New Orleans coordinator Charles Hunter and the National Baptist Laymen's Movement do apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

January 25, 2007:  Mid Winter Board Session Resolution

The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. passed a resolution on January 25, 2007  during its Mid Winter Board Session supporting a phased withdrawal of troops in Iraq and stepped up efforts to re-build the Gulf States regions affected by Hurricane Katrina.

November 11, 2006

"Macedonia Ministry"

In keeping with its outreach to assist churches, pastors and congregants in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region, the implementation of Phase II of the National Baptist Convention’s Macedonia Ministry will be held from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM Thursday, November 16, 2006, at the Hampton Inn and Suites, 1201 Convention Center Boulevard in New Orleans, Louisiana.  A full day seminar with New Orleans pastors and the officers of financial institutions is planned.  The meeting is co-sponsored by the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Read the full story

August 27, 2006

"Macedonia Ministry"

NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION, USA, INC. CLERGY HEAD TO NEW ORLEANS FOR PRAYER, HELP, AND HEALING
AUGUST 29, 2006

To commemorate the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, 40+ pastors and leaders of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. (NBCUSA, Inc.) will head to New Orleans for the National Baptist Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, August 29. The Prayer Service, to be at held Asia Baptist Church, 1400 Sere Street, New Orleans, will begin at 8:30am. The delegation will be led by Dr. William J. Shaw, president of the 7.5 million member NBCUSA, Inc., and Rev. R. B. Holmes, Jr., president, National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, an auxiliary of the NBCUSA, Inc.  New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin, city and state officials, and local pastors and lay leaders will join the delegation. According to NBCUSA, Inc. officials, the location of the breakfast is significant and symbolic. Asia Baptist Church, where floods waters reached 8 feet, sustained significant damage following Katrina.

In keeping with its outreach to assist churches, pastors and congregants in the Gulf Coast region, NBCUSA, Inc. will unveil Phase I of the Macedonia Ministry. The goal of the Macedonia Ministry is to identify forty 40 pastors across the country who will make a three-year commitment to support forty 40 churches and pastors in the New Orleans area.

Read the Full Press Release (pdf)

April 4, 2006

NEWS FLASH!
WORK MISSION IN NEW ORLEANS:  April 26-29, 2006!

President Harold Simmons is calling for another work effort for all the men and women supporters of the National Baptist Laymen's Movement.

He is asking that as many that will, to come for a work-witness mission to help rebuild, repair and restore the homes of our brothers and sisters in New Orleans, Louisiana. This will be a four-day  effort to continue our work from March. Those that have been to Mississippi and Louisiana will tell you there is still much work to be done.

The dates are: April 26 - 29, 2006--Please make your flight reservations now!

Don't forget that your travel costs will be reimbursed and the local host committee will provide meals and lodging.

Plan to arrive on late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Plan your departure from New Orleans late in the evening on Saturday, April 29th.

THE CUT-OFF DATE IS APRIL 19TH  

Please call President Harold Simmons if you are planning to come so he can confirm your reimbursement for travel at 913-334-5303 or 816-898-6828.

If you are an Electrician, Plumber, Carpenter, Roofer, Laborer and Painter, your skills are needed.

If you can hang sheet rock, hang wall paper, lay carpet and cement finishing, your skills are needed.

If you can lift, carry, pull up, tear down, hammer, drag and shovel, your skills are needed.

You will be joined by men and women from other cities in Louisiana to help their friends in New Orleans.

This is a major effort to do a lot in a short period of time. When you arrive, time will not be wasted. Your work assignments will be waiting on you. Come prepared to have a mind to work. Neh. 4:6

After you have made your flight arrangements, please contact the local host committee so they can make arrangements to pick you up at the airport and to lodge you.

Charles Hunter - 504-495-5208 Cell
chunte3@bellsouth.netf- Hunter, Charles
cbadumas@aol.com- Dumas, Cornelious

February 28, 2006

Gamaliel Foundation Announces:
A Season of Prayer, Reflections and Action for Justice Six Months After Hurricane Katrina

Print Brochure

This information about the Gamaliel Foundation and its upcoming “Season of Prayer, Reflection, and Action,” is brought to you by the Home Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Rev. Charles E. Mock, Executive Secretary:

Please consider the invitation of The Rev. Joe Games, GNCC President, and the chairs of other Gamaliel national tables (below) to participate in a "season" of prayer, reflection, and action for justice six months after Katrina, beginning with worship this coming weekend and, depending on your interests, the possibility of vigils and congressional visits.

Here is a link that will take you to a litany and bulletin insert, which was drafted by leadership of the GNCC: http://www.gamaliel.org/Katrina/BulletinInsert2.pdf  I hope this may be of service to you and your congregants in worship this weekend.

For additional Katrina resources and informaiton, please go to:  http://www.gamaliel.org/Katrina/default.htm

Convention Announces Disaster Relief Services and Funding Priorities

The Home Mission Board has been designated by President Shaw as the coordinator of our convention’s various responses to those affected by Katrina. Our strategic plan is a work in progress. The following strategy at the time of this writing (9/22/2005) is being followed and I trust it will assist in your understanding of the steps we are following to assure the most effective use of the Katrina or Hurricane dollars that have been sent to our office.

Click on this link to review the full document: Katrina Relief Services and Funding Priorities

10/3/2005
Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control Issue Letter RE:  Health Concerns to Faith Community:

"Dear Faith and/or Community Leader,

The affects of hurricane Katrina have impacted so many people.   We wanted to make sure that you have the most current information in order to protect the health of hurricane survivors and those closest to them.  We have developed some health information that may be useful to you and those in your community.   A variety web links for Hurricane Katrina health information..."

Click on this link to review the letter and links to community resources:  CDC Memo

9/21/2005
National Baptist Laymen's Movement NEWS FLASH!!

Kansas City, KS -- President Harold Simmons will be flying to Gulfport, Mississippi on tomorrow, Thursday, September 22, 2005 to do an emergency assessment of needs of the Katrina hurricane victims in the cities along the Gulf of Mexico in Mississippi.

Resources Directory for People Affected by Hurricane Katrina Launched!

The Home Mission Board's Disaster Relief Ministry for the victims of Hurricane Katrina have published an online resources directory (ALSO SEE LINK ON THE LEFT)  This directory contains information about resources our churches and affiliated organizations and individuals are making available to people affected by Katrina.  Currently, informaiton about temporary housing and clothing and other supplies availability is published in the directory.  We will continue to add to the Directory daily. 

Add Your Resources to the Directory

If you would like to contribute information about services and/or goods available to include in the directory, please contact: 

Ms. Florence Jean Wright
1330 N. 14th Street
Harrisburg, PA  17103
Email:  fjwright@nationalbaptist.com
Fax:  (717) 234-3707

GO TO DIRECTORY

9/17/2005

Home Mission Board Publishes Katrina Disaster Relief Volunteer Information

The Home Mission Board has been designated by the Parent Body to create a central clearinghouse of resources, volunteers and requests for services for the Convention's Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief Ministry.  In this role, the Home Mission Board will work jointly with the Auxiliaries and Boards of the Convention to be sure that resources, people, and needs are matched efficiently, and that the Convention's collective responses to assist Katrina victims will be documented and publicized.  Currently, the following documents are available:

Volunteer Coordination Information and Forms:  Areas volunteers and donations are needed, and a standardized form to indicate what is being volunteered or donated.  These forms will be forwarded to the Home Mission Board for entry into a centralized database and distributed to the Auxiliaries that are managing the various ministries requiring the volunteered services or donations.

Volunteer Emergency Contact, Covenant and Release Forms.  These forms are used for individuals who are going on location to provide hands-on assistance in an area affected by a disaster.   A checklist for what volunteers should take with them is included.

Adoption Ministry.  Describes how individuals or church organizations can adopt a family, church or pastor to provide encouragement and support for an extended period of time.

You may access these forms by scrolling to the bottom of this page to review all Katrina-related documents or by clicking on the title of the forms above.

9/15/2005 
Laymen Lead Clean-Up and Repair Team to the Mississippi Gulf Region--SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

The National Baptist Laymen's Movement will lead a team of men and women to Mississippi to assist in the cleanup and restoration of damaged homes and other properties in the Gulf coast areas. This will occur in a couple of weeks.

1. General carpentry

2. Hang sheet rock.

3. Operate a chainsaw

NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION, USA, INC. DISASTER RELIEF RESPONSE- A Work in Progress

Under the leadership of the President of the National Baptist Convention USA Inc., Dr William J Shaw the DISASTER RELIEF STRATEGY will be both HEAVENLY AND HISTORICALLY CENTERED.
 
1. HEAVENLY CENTERED IN CHRIST
By making our response Christ-centered we assure that all that we do is a redemptive response that is rooted in Jesus Christ only, always. It also assures that our response will be realized with redemptive Vision, Integrity, Structure and Accountability.

2. HISTORICALLY CENTERED IN CULTURE
By sub-centering our Christ-centered, redemptive response in the best practices of the ethnic and cultural heritage of Black Americans, we draw from the best of both worlds.   The home mission board will utilize a communication strategy called the Overground Railroad that will be modeled after the best practices of the Underground Railroad.

By framing our Christ-centered, redemptive response in the Overground Railroad, we uniquely contextualize it in one of the most significant cultural symbols of our Black-American heritage. This will serve as a very important communication and teaching tool for children and youth in general, but more importantly, Black-American children and youth in particular.

The Overground Railroad concept therefore is not an attempt to be cute or self-serving. It is attempt to be redemptive, real, relevant, creative, communicative and user friendly.

COMPONENT PARTS

General Conductor: Dr. William J. Shaw
Assistant General Conductor: The Home Mission Board
Assistant Conductors: Professional Personnel
Conductors: Pastors
Pullman: Laypersons from Local Churches Who Are Volunteers
Trains: Churches, District Associations, State Conventions
Tracks: Public and Private Entities with Whom We Collaborate and Partner for the Delivery Of Services To Geographical Locations

SERVICE CATEGORIES

A. CORE OF ENGINEERS:
Administrative Services: Personnel
Public Relations
Technical Support
Data Collection & Analysis
B. HOUSING
Immediate: Homes, Hotels
Temporary: Shelters
Permanent: Houses
C. HEALTH SERVICES:
Physical: Medical and Related Care
Spiritual: Individual and Family Spiritual Counseling  
Mental: Emotional Support
D. SOCIAL SERVICES: (PUBLIC AND PRIVATE)
Education: Training
Employment
Advocacy 
E. MATERIAL SERVICES
Food
Clothing
Supplies
Toys
Other

SUB-CATEGORIES OF RESPONSE

1. Health and Medical
2. Housing: Housing Commission of the NBC, USA, Inc.
3. Education
4. Employment
5. Business Re-Development: (Tracked By Chambers Of Commerce)
6. Clothing
7. Food and Water
8. Generators
9. Transportation System: Convoys
10. Collaboration and Partnership: (FEMA, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Etc.
11. Data Bank for Capitol and Assets
12. Individual and Family Counseling Services

Please direct inquiries or comments to: 
Rev. Charles E. Mock,
Executive Secretary, Home Mission Board
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
1700 Baptist World Center Drive
Nashville, TN  37207
Phone:  866.531.3054
Email:  hmb@nationalbaptist.com

9/7/2005

President Shaw blasts the Bush Administration for its handling of Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts, stating: 

"We hold national leaders accountable for the preventable consequences of the Hurricane Katrina disaster.  September 11, 2001 attacks, the war in Iraq, and Hurricane Katrina happened on this Administration’s watch.  Accountability for them all must be required."

Read the full story:  Hurricane Katrina Press Release 9/7/2005

9/2/2005

Message from the Executive Director of the Home Mission Board

1. EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS (AMERICAN BAPTIST COLLEGE, TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY)
2. CHURCHES
3. PRIVATE RESOURCES (BUSINESSES AND CORPORATIONS THAT CAN MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS)
4. PUBLIC RESOURCES (FEMA, RED CROSS, SALVATION ARMY)
5. VOLUNTTERS (MISSIONARY CIRCLES AND OTHER MEN AND WOMEN)
6. GOVERNMENT SOCIAL SERVICES
7. HUMAN RESOURCES
8. MATERIAL RESOURCES
9. SPIRITUAL RESOURCES (INTERCESSORTY PRAYER TEAMS)
10. TRANSPORTATION

1. WE WILL WORK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE NATIONAL OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF OUR CONVENTION TO REACH AS MANY PERSONS AS POSSIBLE. WE WILL ALSO WORK WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES OF FAITH WHEN BY DOING SO, WILL ENHANCE THE DELIVERY OF OUR OWN EFFORTS AND SERVICES
2. WE SEEK TO MATCH OUR KATRINA NEIGHBORS TO FAMILIES ACROSS THE NATIONAL IN A FIDUCIARY WAY, AND, OR AS HOSTS IN THEIR HOME FOR AN AGREED UPON PERIOD OF TIME. DETAILS MUST BE WORKED OUT ON WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES WOULD BE FOR A HOST FAMILY.
3. WE SEEK TO MATCH CHURCHES WITH FORMER CHURCHES AND PASTORS THAT WERE WIPED OUT OR DAMAGED WITH EACH OTHER BASED ON A FOREIGN MISSION MINISTRY MODEL.
4. WE WILL RECEIVE REQUESTS AND RESPOND FINANCIALLY OR OTHERWISE THROUGH OUR HOME MISSION NETWORK
5. WE WILL DEVELOP IN LOCAL CHURCHES (WITH THE PASTOR'S PERMISSION) TO CONNECT NATIONAL HOME MISSION BOARD INITIATIVES WITH THE LOCAL CHURCH AND DISTRICT LEVELS.
6. WE WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE CENTER FOR RECEIVING AND CIRCULATING INFORMATION AND STRAGEGIES USED BY CHURCHES AND OTHER ENTITIES IN THEIR RESPONSE TO Katrina. These will be shared on our Home Mission Website: nationalbaptist.com, as well as, in our quarterly newsletter, The M & M Connection.

Rev. Charles E. Mock, Executive Director, Home Mission Board

8/30/2005
A Message From the Laymen

8/30/2005
Home Mission Board Announces:  "Katrina: Project Mercy"

8/30/2005
Statement from the Convention President William J. Shaw

We are all deeply moved by the devastation wrought by Katrina.  As President of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., I am designating the first three Sundays in September 2005 as Katrina Disaster Relief Sundays for churches and or individuals of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.  Churches across the country are requested to make special contributions to provide aide to the areas impacted.

Checks should be made payable to “NBC, USA, Inc.—Katrina Relief Fund” and mailed to:

The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.
Atten:  Katrina Disaster Relief Fund
1700 Baptist World Center Drive
Nashville, Tennessee  37207

Donate Online

You may also make a contribution to this effort online by clicking on the link below.  Mastercard and Visa are accepted.

The Convention will receive a report from the three affected states during our 125th Annual Session convening in Atlanta, Georgia September 5-9, 2005.  A summary of this report will be published as soon as possible after the Annual Session on the Convention website, at www.nationalbaptist.com.  Updates concerning our efforts to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina will also be published there. 

The Convention prays fervently for all who suffer from this catastrophic disaster.  Its ripple fall out will impact not only the direct victims in the area but millions across the country in higher food, fuel, home and other related costs.  We encourage each of you to stay diligent in prayer and in the offering of your time and resources towards relief for all who are affected.
 
Yours in the love of Christ and the cause of VISA,

William J. Shaw, President
National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

Disaster Relief-Related Documents

To review these documents, click on the document title of your choice.  These forms require the Adobe Reader, available at:  Adobe