Acts 29

Recovery on the Coast--First Baptist Church of Bay St. Louis has been positioning itself to be a base camp for relief teams that work on the Coast--especially the western part of the Coast covered by Hancock County Mississippi.

The following information will be helpful to teams coming from Acts 29 Network churches:

This last weekend, teams from Metro Association and Georgia worked at FBC Bay St. Louis.  The church remained relatively intact.  We secured the roof with tarps--so they are in the dry.  The sanctuary was mucked out.  We tore out the heart-pine paneling and sheetrock around the building to allow treatment with a chlorine solution and to allow air to circulate, beginning the dry-out process.  Debris was pushed away from the church buildings and out to the street for removal.  All the supplies that have been shipped in were stored in the one building that still has air-conditioning (a rare commodity there now).  We were able to build sawhorses and put platforms on them to get all that material into the sanctuary.  This move allows the air-conditioned building to be used for worship, eating, and sleeping for teams.  Also, we were able to secure a water purification system from Charleston, SC.  It is on-site at the church. The system will purify enough water for 3000 persons a day.

Several aspects of this church facility make it a good location for a base camp for volunteers along the coast.

1. The building remains pretty much intact--one of the few church buildings to survive.

2. It has shower facilities

3. The water purification system provides potable water in quantity.

4. The air-conditioned building allows teams to sleep in relative comfort.

5. Their large commercial refrigerator survived without damage--food can be stored.

6. The kitchen is operable--except for the stove--we had to cook on propane burners

7. Porta-johns are right across the street--comfort can be maintained.

8. Pastor Al Green and Minister of Education, Brian Rushing, are there and coordinating much of the work that is being done.  Al's number is (228) 547-3114; Brian's is (228) 342-3531.  Call them to discuss the possibilities of both housing and relief needs.

Food is a major consideration for a team going down to work for a few days.  The Baptist feeding station is not far away.  Pastor Green can direct you there. 

Accessing Relief Materials Becky Baum is coordinating the processing and distribution of relief materials.  She told us at Metro that these materials are no good sitting in a warehouse.  She wants to use faith-based groups (read that as churches) to help distribute these resources.  She outlined a process for getting those goods out to points where they can be used and/or distributed.  Here it is...

1. Call 1-866-230-8903 to make a request.  They only send out full 18-wheelers, so have a list of materials you need in volume.  Becky said that they have diapers, food, water, mattresses, almost any thing a person would need.

2. List the responsible party.  Use Metro Baptist Association if necessary--we have registered with the warehouse at the corner of Industrial and Boling.

3. The site where the material is to be delivered must have off-loading capabilities--a loading dock with a fork lift (preferred) or enough person-power to off-load the truck in three-hours or less.

4. Phone numbers:  yours as the responsible person on this end and the responsible person where the resources are going.

5. Name of the contact on the receiving end.

6. The list of needs--a request form will be completed at the warehouse by a volunteer.

7. When the materials are needed.  This is important--the trucks run when they are full.  They will try to deliver the resources when you request them.
 
The center will call the person on the receiving end and tell them when they depart the warehouse.  Three hours are allowed in travel.  The responsible person must have everything in place to off load the truck when it arrives--NO DELAY!

One other number to get resources has been shared by Marsh Kelly, Executive Director of Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service.  She said to call her volunteers at 1-866-230-8903.  This will begin a process whereby you can request materials to assist you in your relief efforts.  This might be tarps to put on houses or churches, cots for volunteers to sleep on, almost anything. 

Pass this on as needed ...things are crazy around here ...

Stacy Andrews

The Journey-Jackson

Volunteer Services Warehouse Directions:

From I-55, take Woodrow Wilson and go west.  Turn right on Livingston.  Go to the first traffic light and take a left on Ridgeway.  Turn left into the parking area of the first warehouse (big blue building) on the left.  Ask for Paula.