Over the weekend, a team of compassionate disaster relief volunteers hailing from Texas Baptist Men embarked on a journey from Dallas to Little Rock to provide aid and comfort in the aftermath of a devastating tornado that had ripped through the city. David Wells, Director of Disaster Relief, stated that the team had been keeping a close watch on the weather, and had their volunteers and equipment on standby in case of need.
The first deployment crew comprised of a command center and a large generator, and Texas Baptist Men’s crew promptly shifted their focus on assessing the extent of the damage caused by the tornadoes. In the upcoming days, additional volunteers were scheduled to arrive with power tools and a mobile kitchen to help expedite the relief efforts.
The destruction that befell Little Rock was extensive, with over 2,000 homes and businesses being destroyed or damaged, as reported by the Mayor. Texas Baptist Men has been swift to respond and remains ready and committed to offer assistance to those who have lost their faith in the wake of this tragedy. They aspire to serve as a beacon of hope and aid to those in dire need.
For those uninitiated, Texas Baptist Men is a Dallas-based Christian organization that endeavors to mobilize Christ followers to change the world by meeting critical needs after disasters, providing clean drinking water to people around the globe, and equipping the next generation to make a difference in the years to come.
TBM was established in 1967 as a men’s ministry of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and has since grown to include more than 17,000 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds, ages, and denominations, serving in different ministries. Disaster relief is one of the primary ministries of Texas Baptist Men, which delivers help, hope, and healing to millions of people affected by natural or man-made disasters.
TBM has over 5,000 trained disaster relief volunteers who can quickly and effectively respond to any situation. They provide services such as mass feeding, chainsaw work, debris removal, mud-out, ash-out, temporary roofing, shower units, laundry units, childcare, and chaplaincy. The water ministry is another essential ministry of TBM that shares clean drinking water and the “living water” of Christ worldwide.
TBM drills more than 2,500 water wells in 80 countries, installs over 12,000 community water systems in 35 countries, and distributes more than 30,000 water filters in 75 countries. TBM also trains local leaders and churches to maintain and operate the water systems and share the gospel with their communities.
In addition, TBM has builders who construct camps, churches, cabinets, and more for God’s glory, as well as discipleship, which raises a new generation to change the world through Royal Ambassadors, Challengers, and Youth on Mission. TBM also has other special projects that address specific needs such as hunger relief, medical missions, and prison ministry.
TBM has a headquarters in Dallas, Texas, where it operates a warehouse, a training center, and an office, and regional offices in Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont/Port Arthur/Orange, Corpus Christi/Rio Grande Valley, El Paso/Lubbock, Fort Worth/Waco, Houston/Galveston, San Antonio, and Tyler/Longview/Marshall. TBM is supported by donations from individuals, churches, and organizations who share its vision and mission.
TBM also partners with other local, national, and international agencies such as Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, North American Mission Board, International Mission Board, Baptist World Alliance, and Samaritan’s Purse. TBM welcomes anyone interested in joining its efforts to visit its website, where they can learn more about its ministries, volunteer opportunities, training events, and news updates, follow its Facebook page or contact them at (214) 275-1100.
