As two major wildfires continued to threaten homes and communities in southeast Georgia over the weekend, Georgia Baptists were responding on multiple fronts, with Disaster Relief units supporting first responders on the scene and Mission Georgia working through local churches to help meet community needs.
See related story: Baptist DR efforts launch amid wildfires forcing evacuations in South Georgia
‘Dynamic, changing situation’
The latest update from fire officials Saturday night (April 25) described the Highway 82 fire in Brantley County as a “dynamic, changing situation” made worse by exceptional drought, hot weather, and shifting winds.
The blaze had grown to 13,745 acres and was just 7% contained. Officials said the fire continued pushing north and northeast, prompting about 100 additional home evacuations Saturday. The second large fire, burning in Clinch and Echols counties near the Florida line, had consumed more than 46 square miles and destroyed at least 35 homes, according to the latest Associated Press report.
The AP also reported that the Brantley County fire has destroyed at least 87 homes. Gov. Brian Kemp said that’s the most homes ever lost in Georgia to a single wildfire.
Investigators believe that fire began when a foil balloon struck live power lines, creating an electrical arc that ignited dry ground below. The Clinch-Echols fire was reportedly sparked by a welding operation. Across Georgia and Florida, more than 150 other wildfires have also been burning, with smoky haze drifting well beyond the fire zones.
Ongoing response
Greg Benfield, associational mission strategist for the Piedmont Okefenokee Baptist Association, said the churches closest to the ongoing response are Southside Baptist Church in Nahunta, Waynesville Baptist Church, and Lulaton Baptist Church.
Lulaton Baptist has become the primary site for first responder care. “There’s a shower unit there from disaster relief,” Benfield said.
Southside Baptist in Nahunta and Waynesville Baptist have focused more directly on helping displaced residents and families forced from their homes.
“Southside Nahunta has had eight or 10 people housed there the last couple of nights,” Benfield said. “Whereas Waynesville had provided three meals, breakfast, lunch, and supper, with supper being a hot meal.”
Dwain Carter, director of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief, said the ministry began deploying units to Brantley County as the scale of the fires and the strain on emergency personnel became clear. Carter said shower and laundry units, along with a large generator to power them, were sent at the request of local emergency management.
‘What a day’
Michael Taylor, associational mission strategist for the Smyrna Baptist Association, which sent the shower trailer to Lulaton Baptist Church, posted that the ministry has already opened doors for both practical help and spiritual encouragement.
“What a day,” Taylor wrote on Saturday. “Driving the fire lines here in Brantley County opened unexpected doors for ministry — praying with several groups of firefighters, encouraging them, and passing out water and snacks as they serve.”
Taylor said the trailer has been in steady use each night.
“Every night, our shower trailer has been in full use — 30 firefighters from the Savannah area coming to shower, sleeping at the church, and getting their clothes washed and ready for the next day,” he said.
Carter said Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief is staying in close contact with Emergency Management, Salvation Army, local pastors, and other ministry partners as the response unfolds. He has repeatedly asked Georgia Baptists to pray for emergency responders, community members, and families affected by the fires.
One recent note of encouragement came from a firefighter who used one of the shower trailers.
“Shower trailer is TOP NOTCH!!” the firefighter said in a message Carter shared. “Having towels and toiletries was awesome too since several guys that didn’t plan to stay and stayed had something to use.”
Strengthening local ministry response
While Disaster Relief has focused largely on supporting firefighters and other personnel in the field, Mission Georgia has been working through churches and associations to strengthen the local ministry response.
Mission Georgia has begun reaching out to churches in the affected area, with special attention given to the most heavily impacted congregations. Mission Georgia has also provided $1,500 donations to three churches involved in feeding efforts.
The ministry also joined the Alpharetta Assemble Day of Service on Saturday, presented by the Rotary Club of Alpharetta, to prepare emergency food kits and backpacks for children. Those food boxes and backpacks are scheduled to be delivered to churches where the shower and laundry trailers are staged.
Benfield said that for now, churches and volunteers have no shortage of bottled water, Visine, Gatorade, snacks, and similar items.
Instead, for those looking to help, Benfield suggested donations of gift cards to the churches at the center of the response, “so that they can help families not just get some food, but maybe some clothes down the road,” Benfield said. “Many families can’t even return to their property yet to assess what remains.”
Stepping up to help
Other congregations across the region have stepped in to assist as well. Nahunta First Baptist prepared and delivered 100 sandwiches, dozens of bagged pickles, more than 200 snack bags, and a truckload of water for firefighters on Friday.
WJCL reported that Little Memorial Baptist Church in Hortense opened almost immediately as a shelter and resource center for evacuees. Assistant pastor Ritchie Self told the station the fires were unlike anything he had seen in 23 years there. Pastor Keith Brown said the church’s focus was simple: “We are here to help whoever and whosoever is in need.”
Baptist Press likewise reported that Twin Rivers Baptist Church in Hortense held a special “pray for rain” service as the Highway 82 fire spread. Pastor Rusty Bryan told Baptist Press, “We’re just praying for God to move and send rain as He sees fit.”
First Baptist Church of Brunswick took a similar approach, with Pastor Chris Winford urging worshipers to bring umbrellas to church on Sunday as a sign of faith while praying for rain, containment, protection for homes and families, and peace for those being evacuated.
Urgent prayer requests
Benfield said those prayers remain urgent.
“Pray for rain, for the wind to die down, for those displaced by fire, and then for those fighting the fire,” he said.
The wind, he said, has made the fires more unpredictable.
“The wind in the afternoon is really wreaking havoc because it changes directions on the firefighters, which can be dangerous,” Benfield said.
Looking beyond the immediate crisis, Benfield said churches are already beginning to think about ongoing ways to support the community. One idea under discussion is for churches to “adopt” affected families and help them with clothing, food, and the process of resettling once they are allowed back onto their properties.
Georgia Baptists, through Disaster Relief, Mission Georgia, and local churches, are meeting urgent needs while preparing for the longer work that will follow once the fires are contained.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Henry Durand and originally published by the Christian Index.
