Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Oklahoma women share experiences about Disaster Relief work following Hurricane Ida

  • September 17, 2021
  • Maggie Evans
  • Disaster Relief, Latest News, Louisiana, Oklahoma

Oklahoma women share experiences about Disaster Relief work following Hurricane Ida

After Hurricane Katrina, Oklahoma Baptist Nancy Charlton got involved with Disaster Relief and has been serving ever since

When Hurricane Katrina devastated Mississippi and Louisiana 16 years ago, Nancy Charlton desperately wanted to go help those whose lives had been ravaged by the storm. 

“Before Katrina, women didn’t really go out and do Disaster Relief work. It was more of a men’s ministry,” said Charlton, who’s a member of Union City First Baptist Church in Oklahoma. 

But the massive recovery process from Katrina caused a shift in what had been the norm, and Charlton has been involved in Disaster Relief work through the General Convention of Oklahoma Baptists ever since. 

Teri Fuller (right) and Shelba Rudek share about the administrative side of the Incident Command Center at Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Louisiana.

Teri Fuller’s husband got her involved in Disaster Relief work, with her first callout being the Oklahoma ice storm in 2007.

Fuller said, “My husband just loves [Disaster Relief] so much. He really feels like it’s his calling. And it makes it easier to be able to do this together.”

The Fullers are members of Medicine Park First Baptist Church in Oklahoma.

Along with Shelba Rudek, Charlton and Fuller are currently serving administratively at the Incident Command Center at Bayou Vista Baptist Church, just 40 miles west of Houma, Louisiana, which was heavily affected by Hurricane Ida. Ida made landfall Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm.

This site has been cooking two meals a day under a tent in the church parking lot in partnership with the American Red Cross. The meals then are taken the 40 miles to Houma and distributed.

Rainy conditions have complicated the cooking and distribution process for the volunteers, but it hasn’t stopped them. 

The experience of handing out food to people who have just experienced profound loss is “something I’ll remember,” says Barbara Byram.

Rudek said, “You should have seen the people working in the feeding tent the past few days. They’ve had water up to their ankles at times, and they just keep going.”

For someone who is a little newer to Disaster Relief work, like Barbara Byram, this callout in Louisiana is a learning experience. A member of Drumright First Baptist Church in Oklahoma, Byram has been serving her fellow volunteers by working in the laundry unit. On Sept. 15, however, she got to minister in a different way. 

“I got to go out and distribute food out in Houma. I was very humbled by what [the residents] have to go through” Byram said. “It really put into perspective why we’re here.”

As Byram put it, “it’s not about just doing laundry” or cooking food or cutting trees. It’s about helping those who are hurting. 

“This is something I’ll remember,” she said.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Developing story: Multiple people injured in Kentucky shooting
    Developing story: Multiple people injured in Kentucky shooting
    July 13, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • When should you see a therapist?
    When should you see a therapist?
    July 13, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • First person: 10 reasons why unchurched people may find your small group uncomfortable
    First person: 10 reasons why unchurched people may find your small group uncomfortable
    July 12, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Developing story: Multiple people injured in Kentucky shooting

A developing story out of Lexington, Kentucky, indicates multiple people have been injured, including a state trooper, after a situation developed reportedly during a traffic

When should you see a therapist?

Remember all those things that happened back then — the things that you “just don’t think about?” Yeah. They’re still there.

First person: 10 reasons why unchurched people may find your small group uncomfortable

The healthiest churches I know have small groups that are intentional about reaching non-believers. They set that goal, and they seek to reach lost people and then disciple new believers. At the same time, though, I’m reminded of reasons unchurched or newly-churched folks may be uncomfortable attending your small group.

Free training available for churches to address sexual abuse

Many churches have begun using background checks to help prevent abuse, but fewer are trained in reporting potential abuse. Lifeway Christian Resources and Clear Investigative

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel