USA (MNN) — Natural disasters take deadly tolls each year.
According to the United Nations Emergency Events Database, just in the Asia/Pacific region alone, over 70,000 people on average are killed yearly from natural disasters.
The Body of Christ is stepping up to the plate in preparation to respond to these disasters.
Churches from three different states came together in Lebanon, Ohio May 18-21 to become trained volunteers for the Baptist Global Response International Disaster Response.
BGR’s training program was hosted by Urbancrest Baptist Church. Attendants worked on team projects, learned about the biblical basis for responding to needs, and made checklists to assess food, shelter, water, sanitation, and health needs in a crisis.
Pat Melancon, the trainer at the event, says, “Urbancrest Baptist Church is a leader and a great partner in International Disaster Response.”
Everyone who went to the training weekend is now in BGR’s database of trained volunteers available for overseas disaster response.
As studied by volunteers, the biblical basis for meeting needs is the driving force behind BGR’s mission.
According to BGR’s Web page, “We seek to demonstrate the love of God so that people in need have the opportunity to experience the full and meaningful lives God created them to enjoy.”
But BGR can’t do it without the help of brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ.
There are several different ways people can partner with BGR, either through prayer, volunteer work, or donation.
