Baptist relief teams hit the ground running Monday (July 14) after a rough weekend of heavy rains and flash flood warnings in Central Texas that temporarily suspended search and rescue efforts Sunday along the Guadalupe River, where catastrophic July 4th flooding has claimed at least 132 lives and left over 170 missing. It was the first weather-related pause in the search, which resumed late Sunday (July 13) as conditions improved, the Associated Press reported. Kerr County, where most deaths occurred, remains under a flood watch with more rain expected.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and Texans on Mission, who also partner with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, continue to assess the area and send out chaplains and clean-up crews. A Quick Response Feeding Unit continues to serve at First Baptist Kerrville, while Trinity Baptist Church hosts other ministry services for area residents. San Saba also received assistance Sunday as out-of-state Disaster Relief teams remain on standby. Baptists continue providing physical help and spiritual care in this unfolding tragedy.
RELATED: Check out more stories on the Texas flooding and response.
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Helping the hurting
“We want to walk with people that are hurting and hurt with them,” John Wheat, pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville, Texas, which has opened its doors for families with children who were unaccounted for after the flood. The church continues to minister to these hurting families who have lost loved ones to flood waters. “I told these families, ‘I can’t understand what you’re going through, but I hurt with you… and we’re gonna walk alongside you so don’t think you are by yourself.
“We know that people are hurting, and we have an answer. And the answer is Jesus.”
Ways to help
For more information on how you can help, check with your church, association or state Baptist convention to find out how they are contributing to this and other ongoing relief efforts in neighboring states, your state and beyond.
See other related links below:
Brothers immersed in disaster response after flood -Baptist Standard
Disaster response under scrutiny after catastrophic Texas floods -CNN
Search for Texas flood victims to resume after pause due to heavy rains -Associated Press
Heavy rain forced crews to temporarily suspend search – The World and Everything in It
New flooding hits battered Texas; water rescues, evacuations underway: Updates – USAToday
See related stories on flooding response:
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was compiled by Shawn Hendricks, content editor of The Baptist Paper, with reporting from Marc Hooks and from various media reports.
