Mission of Disaster Relief Ministry

The mission of the disaster relief ministry is to share the love of Christ with people in need immediately following a disaster event.

Our volunteers demonstrate God’s love in practical ways such as;

• providing hot meals,
• removing fallen trees from roofs
• and making temporary home repairs so that families can move back home after a disaster.

Our disaster relief teams are prepared to;

• mobilize and set up their ministry work as soon as a disaster occurs
  
• meet the basic needs of community residents
• provide Chaplain services to meet spiritual needs
  

Our disaster relief ministry team is made up of several hundred trained volunteers from Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware congregations.

• these volunteers travel at their own expense for up to a week at a time in response to disaster relief needs both locally and across our nation.

In addition to our trained volunteers, our disaster relief resources include several self-contained trailers or “units” owned and maintained by our partner associations.

• Feeding Unit: Each of our two mobile kitchen feeding units is capable of feeding 5000+ hot meals per day. Volunteers serving with these units are trained in preparing nutritious meals in high-volume situations.
• Recovery Unit:  Our two recovery units are outfitted with power equipment and generators to facilitate the work of removing fallen trees, mud out and making temporary repairs to damaged homes. Our volunteers are trained to operate this equipment in a safe and efficient manner.
• New Communications Unit:  This unit will is equipped to set up temporary communications across a disaster response area and provide logistical and tactical support for our disaster relief units. Volunteers in communications are trained in providing communications in a skilled and professional manner.

In addition to our partnership with Maryland/Delaware Baptist congregations and local associations, we partner with the following:

• North American Mission Board (NAMB)
• Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
• Sister Baptist state conventions.
• American Red Cross
• The Salvation Army
• And other voluntary organization active in disaster response
  

For information pertaining to "Rebuilding Communities after a disaster" please refer to our "Rebuilding Needs" page. 

To follow up to date information pertaining to Disaster Relief news, please visit our news feed posted below.

For more information on how you can get involved in the ministry of Disaster Relief contact: 

Ellen Udovich, Disaster Relief Missionary, Baptist Convention of MD/DE at eudovich@bcmd.org or call 443-250-2555 

Ministry Assistant, Donna Shiflett at dshiflett@bcmd.org or call 410-290-5290 ext 226