Ron and Carolyn Knowlton have spent nearly their entire marriage serving side by side, but in recent years their shared calling has taken them into disaster zones across Arkansas and beyond through Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief, where they serve primarily in chaplaincy and assessment roles.
The Ethel couple, married nearly 54 years, say their ministry together is rooted in both lifelong partnership and a shared commitment to sharing the Gospel during times of crisis.
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Their journey into disaster relief ministry began with early deployments in Arkansas, including tornado recovery efforts in Vilonia in 2011 and 2014, where they helped with tarp and recovery work after widespread destruction.
Turning point
A turning point came when the couple served in Houston during Hurricane Harvey, where they helped with mass feeding operations serving thousands of meals per day.
“We were on a food crew, and we were cooking 5,000 meals a day,” Ron said. “It was quite eye-opening, the devastation that there was.”
Carolyn said the experience deepened their commitment to disaster relief ministry.
“That’s probably when we really fell in love with DR,” she said.
Today, the Knowltons serve primarily as chaplains, walking alongside survivors in some of the most difficult moments of their lives. They describe chaplaincy as a ministry of presence, listening, and spiritual care.
“Being a chaplain is listening,” Ron said. “People are hurting. They’ve lost property. In some cases, there’s been lives lost.”
Carolyn said the work creates unique opportunities for spiritual conversations.
“We are all about evangelism,” she said. “We love the fact that at disaster relief, you can go in and love on the people who are going through this horrible time in their life, and most of them are wide open to the gospel.”
One of the most meaningful experiences they shared involved repeated visits to a hospice patient who initially resisted contact but later came to faith in Christ before his death.
“We went back four times,” Carolyn said. On the fourth visit, “Ron was able to lead him to the Lord.”
Dividing and conquering
In their roles as assessors and chaplains, the Knowltons often divide responsibilities on site, with Ron evaluating damage while Carolyn engages homeowners in conversation and prayer.
“He’s out measuring trees and all, doing the assessing,” Carolyn said, “and I’m in the house talking to them about the Lord.”
“But it’s a great partnership,” Ron said.
The couple said disaster relief work is not only about meeting physical needs but also about offering hope and pointing people to Christ during moments of vulnerability.
“Peoples’ hearts are tender,” Carolyn said. “There’s no better time to share the gospel of Jesus with them than at that time.”
Looking ahead
As they look to the future, the Knowltons say they hope more volunteers will join the work through Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief, supported in part by the Dixie Jackson Arkansas Missions Offering, which helps fund deployment efforts and training across the state.
“We need new people, new blood coming in,” Ron said.
Carolyn added an invitation for others considering involvement in the ministry.
“If you feel the Lord tugging at your heart,” she said. “I just challenge you to reach out and find out more about disaster relief ministry.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by Arkansas Baptist News.
