Light After the Storm: Disaster Response 2022

By Kenneth Akers

The past year was busy for the Free Will Baptist Disaster Response Team. In December 2021, an outbreak of tornadoes wreaked havoc across several states including Tennessee and Kentucky. The utter destruction of Mayfield, Kentucky, made national news, and most large disaster response groups converged on that town.

Most people did not realize many other locations also sustained severe damage. Areas in and around Bowling Green, Kentucky, and along the Tennessee/Kentucky border were among these hard-hit areas. Master’s Men and associated partners immediately sprang into action. Regional teams from Kentucky, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee responded, along with a church from Locust Grove, Oklahoma.

Working with the Oklahoma church and providing Disaster Response Team (DRT) shirts for their team expanded to providing them with a trailer and equipment to be housed in Oklahoma. These willing volunteers have since responded to several disaster locations. In July, a once-in-a-lifetime flood occurred in Eastern Kentucky. Up to 12 inches of rain fell within a two-hour span. Small towns and communities never before flooded were wiped out. Once again, DRT responded with teams from Kentucky, Ohio, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee.

Since that time, volunteers have provided thousands of labor hours, donated thousands of dollars, and delivered truckloads of supplies. Because of this tremendous response, three new Disaster Response Teams were formed: the Ohio Valley Master’s Men DRT; the Kentucky Master’s Men DRT from Lexington, Kentucky; and a DRT from a church in western Virginia. We have been able to provide all these groups with trailers and equipment to use, in addition to their existing equipment.

In the fall, Hurricane Ian arrived, smashing Southwest Florida with category four winds and a powerful storm surge. Master’s Men had DRT representatives on location and additionally worked with local churches to provide relief funding.

As we look back over all the destruction experienced last year, we see a bright spot. In 2022, many men and women were involved in disaster response for the first time. We also received gifts from many who couldn’t go themselves. We formed new regional teams equipped with necessary tools to respond quickly, thanks to generous donations.

While we are saddened by the destruction, and the loss of life in some areas, we rejoice to see the many lives and hearts changed by going and giving. If you or your church want to get involved in DRT, contact ken@nafwb.org and stay connected through the Master’s Men Facebook page.

If you would like a Master’s Men DRT representative to visit your church and explain our ministry, please contact us! And thank you to Free Will Baptist men and women across the nation who have volunteered over the last 17 years through Master’s Men Disaster Response.

About the Author: Ken Akers is the director of Free Will Baptist Master’s Men. Learn more: fwbmastersmen.org.