Reid partners with Baptist World Alliance Group in disaster work
From Baptist World Alliance Magazine

NORTH AMERICANS FORM DISASTER RELLIEF NETWORK

The North American Baptist Fellowship (NABF) has established a Disaster Relief Network.

The network, which is still in the process of development, brings member bodies of the NABF together to offer assistance in instances where disasters occur.

Comprising several Baptist groups in the United States and Canada, such as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., and Canadian Baptist Ministries, the new initiative aims to encourage NABF
members to commit resources to effect disaster relief “without infringing on the mission or autonomy of each.”

Recent disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 and fires in California in 2008 and 2009 were catalysts in leading the various Baptist groups to cooperate and share in disaster planning, as well as in response and recovery
efforts.

One aim of the network is to avoid duplication in disaster response situations. “The ultimate purposes of the NABF Disaster Response Network are to help those who experience disaster to recover more quickly and effectively and to
promote good stewardship by reducing the risk of duplication of efforts and resources,” the purpose document states.

But the network is not a disaster response organization. Rather, “it is intended to be a dynamic networking of its member organizations to enhance these bodies to be more effective responding organizations.” It will not infringe on the
autonomy of each member body to respond to disasters as it sees fit.

It will, however, provide “early responders” to disaster areas who are able to “move into the affected location as quickly as possible after the area has been stabilized and made safe” by “first responders” such as firefighters, search and rescue teams, law enforcement officers, and utility company personnel. These early responders would assist in providing meals and clean water to victims, and do recovery and cleanup operations.

It is envisioned that the network will enable the NABF, one of six regional fellowships of the Baptist World Alliance, to more effectively match volunteers and resources to the level of needs in the aftermath of a disaster, as well as to offer training and the sharing of expertise among the various Baptist church organizations.

Four meetings of the network have been held thus far, the last of which was on May 6-7 in the state of Virginia in the United States. The next meeting is scheduled for November in Toronto, Canada.

Follow this link to see story with photos (page 8) in the Baptist World Alliance Magazine: http://content.yudu.com/A19z7o/BW56-3/resources/8.htm