The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief extended a warm thank you to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware and its churches who gave to assist in the aftermath of severe May 2013 tornados.
Here is the letter in its entirety:
Dear Friends,
It has been two months since a series of severe tornados ripped through communities of Bethel Acres, Carney, Shawnee and Moore. Within moments of hearing of the destruction, a rapid response volunteer team was activated to help with the cleanup and recovery efforts. In the days following the storms, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief has received over $4 million for disaster victims and disaster relief efforts. So far, 670 individuals and families have been helped with direct gifts of $1,315,525. Eighty-four of those families were families of first responders.
Anywhere from 250 to 400 trained disaster relief volunteers have been on multiple sites each day for a month to help in any way possible since the storms’ destruction. Over 1,150 destroyed homes sites have been cleaned up by our disaster relief teams, saving homeowners over $5 million they would have had to pay in cleanup costs. Oklahoma Baptist disaster relief teams have served over 180,000 meals to those affected by the storms.
Families overwhelmed by the devastation have had our trained chaplains walk along beside them from the very first day. These chaplains have made over 10,000 personal contacts in the affected areas and are continuing to bring comfort and counsel to thousands as they sift through the rubble of their homes and lives. The chaplains are there because Oklahoma Baptist response teams are always ready to meet the challenge of severe weather in Oklahoma.
Because of your generosity, disaster relief teams and trained chaplains are always prepared to respond to the most challenging moments anyone will ever face. When disaster happens, Oklahoma Baptist disaster relief teams will reply quickly with the care and concern that only comes from having been there before. Thank you for your gift to the disaster relief work sponsored by Oklahoma Baptists and for all you do for the Lord’s work through the BGCO and Oklahoma Baptist disaster relief.
In His Service,
Marty R. Harkey
Chief Development Officer
A pdf copy of the letter can be downloaded here.