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
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Classifieds
  • Your state news
  • Request a free trial

Retired minister finds ‘revived spirit’ through serving with Disaster Relief

  • September 18, 2021
  • Maggie Evans
  • Disaster Relief, Latest News, Louisiana, Oklahoma

Retired minister finds ‘revived spirit’ through serving with Disaster Relief

Carl Rudek has always been a people person. It’s what drew him to pastoral ministry. But just one month after he retired from full-time ministry, his wife said to him, “We need to re-evaluate your retirement,” Rudek recalled with a laugh. 

Retired pastor Carl Rudek is a member of Rock Creek Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

So he got a job working in the cafeteria of a local school.

And then one day he saw a video of the destruction following a natural disaster. 

“I saw this video and I thought about all those people who must be hurting, and I thought, ‘I should do something with the way I feel,’” he said. “So often we say things like, ‘Oh, that’s so sad,’ but there’s a point where we have to do something.”

For Rudek, that something was getting trained for Disaster Relief work through the General Convention of Oklahoma Baptists. That was several years ago, and he’s currently serving as the chaplain at the Incident Command Center in Bayou Vista, Louisiana. 

Oklahoma Baptists are manning the Disaster Relief efforts in conjunction with the American Red Cross out of Bayou Vista Baptist Church in Louisiana.

“This work is tiring, but in a good way. It’s revived my spirit,” said Rudek, who’s been able to share devotionals with his fellow volunteers every morning. 

After Rudek retired, he moved to Shawnee, Oklahoma, right around the time that COVID-19 shut down much of Americans’ daily life. Because he’s had trouble getting connected, he hasn’t preached a sermon in a year and half. But with Disaster Relief, he gets to serve his fellow volunteers and the local residents in a more pastoral way.

“I’ve gotten to talk to people who’ve been hurting, and you get to pray with them,” he said. “When I see someone new I try to do what my grandma used to say and ‘jump on them like a chicken on a June bug.’”

Rudek and his wife, Shelba, serve with Disaster Relief together, and they’ve even been able to get their four sons involved.

“No matter what situation you’re in God’s got you there for a purpose,” he said.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws
    January 29, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?
    January 29, 2023/
    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

Suspected Islamic extremists kill 4 Christians in Sudan

A church pastor and three other Christians were killed in Sudan on Monday (Jan. 23) when suspected Islamic extremists shot them to death, Morning Start

Pakistan legislation would extend blasphemy laws

Pakistan’s lower house of parliament has passed legislation to make the country’s blasphemy laws stricter even as their blatant misuse again came to light in

Rashional Thoughts: Would you know what to do if you encountered human trafficking?

Denise George’s research into how churches can respond to human trafficking reminded me of a conversation I had last year with Mark Colson, president of the

Hearing, following guidance of Holy Spirit in Baptist associations

Where is the voice of the Holy Spirit clearest: in the administrative offices of a national entity or institution, in the programmatic events of a

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 © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

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