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

‘Special mission’: Georgia volunteers join hunt for wedding bands, engagement rings in ashes of burned homes

  • February 21, 2022
  • Georgia's The Christian Index
  • Colorado, Disaster Relief, Georgia, Latest News
Volunteers have found lots of priceless items in the ashes, including engagement rings.
(Courtesy of Colorado baptist Disaster Relief)

‘Special mission’: Georgia volunteers join hunt for wedding bands, engagement rings in ashes of burned homes

A team of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers recently were deployed to Colorado to help residents there sift through ashes in search of wedding bands, engagement rings and other valuables that might have survived wildfires that swept through Boulder County on Dec. 30, destroying nearly 1,100 homes.

The 10-member team left Georgia on Valentine’s Day on the special mission to reunite wildlife survivors with some of their most priceless possessions.

“Our folks are always ready to help people in need,” said Ricky Thrasher, interim director of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief. “When we issued the call out this time, we had more people volunteer for the mission than we could send.”

Heroes helping people in crisis

The Georgians have joined crews from 10 other states who are literally sifting through ashes where the homes once stood.

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board has more than 7,000 trained disaster relief volunteers — people who Thrasher describes as unsung heroes who leave their families for extended periods to help people in crisis.

Over the past year, they’ve deployed to help victims of hurricanes, tornadoes and floods, working long hours for no pay under difficult conditions to do a variety of tasks. In the eastern U.S., that typically means the yellow-clad volunteers saw up fallen trees, carry away soggy furniture and shovel mud out of homes.

Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief Director Dennis Belz said the teams have completed 362 jobs so far, reuniting survivors with some of their most priceless possessions. Beltz said the volunteers have witnessed lots of tears of happiness.

“We have found way over 100 diamond rings, wedding bands and class rings,” he said. “We have found lots of valuable items, including coins that a military veteran brought back from Afghanistan. We have found Purple Hearts. We even found undamaged pictures beneath the ashes.”

‘They’re not stopping’

Belz said winter weather has complicated the process. Since work began, he said the area has been hit with bitterly cold temperatures, two major snowstorms and another that is predicted for mid-week.

“These people are so dedicated,” Belz said. “We’ve had 13-below-zero temperatures, the snowstorms. They’re not stopping for anything.”

So far, Belz said, 12 of the people the volunteers have helped have made professions of faith. He said people can’t help but notice the Christ-like attitudes of the volunteers, even in such difficult conditions, and they ask how they remain so positive.

That, Belz said, opens the door for gospel conversations.

“The whole community is talking about all the yellow shirts,” he said. “They’re just so impressed with what they’re seeing done.”


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Roger Alford and published by The Christian Index, news service of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Online scammers steal $793K from NC church
    Online scammers steal $793K from NC church
    January 28, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Disaster Relief teams activate quickly, efficiently to support Memphis first responders
    Disaster Relief teams activate quickly, efficiently to support Memphis first responders
    January 28, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Ukrainian guest professor partnering with TN Baptists to aid homeland
    Ukrainian guest professor partnering with TN Baptists to aid homeland
    January 28, 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

Online scammers steal $793K from NC church

A North Carolina congregation’s plans to move into a new worship center this spring have been put on hold after cyber criminals stole more than

Disaster Relief teams activate quickly, efficiently to support Memphis first responders

Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded to an unusual request from the state earlier this week to provide support for first responders preparing for anticipated

Ukrainian guest professor partnering with TN Baptists to aid homeland

A Carson-Newman University staffer has secured the assistance of local Baptist associations and churches in East Tennessee to aid his native country in war-torn Ukraine.

U.S. Hispanic Protestant churches growing through community, evangelism

Hispanic churches in the United States face unique challenges but are finding success in building community within their congregations and reaching those outside their walls.

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