Southern Baptists respond to needs in the Republic of Georgia
Southern Baptists (SBs) are reaching out to help people in Georgia after Russians left a disaster in their wake. Volunteers coming through Baptist Global Response (BGR) have joined SB workers already on the ground to minister to refugees and others affected by the latest violence.
“We had people go to Gori the day the city was reopened following the Russian departure,” said an on-site worker.
Texas Baptist Men recently arrived and plan to stay until Sept. 10. They set up a kitchen in the courtyard of a kindergarten that serves as a home for 115 refugees. This school is only one of 17 where temporary housing has been set up for the newly homeless. The men are cooking for 400, planning to transport some food to other makeshift homes.
Georgian officials used the school next door to the kindergarten as a base of operations during the fighting. As a result, Russian forces hit the area with no less than three bombs. One hit an apartment building directly across the street from the school, killing at least 10.
Many have suffered greatly from the conflict. Volunteers talked with one man whose wife was killed in the explosion—only her hand was found. One worker spoke with a child at the kindergarten, asking if his house was gone. The boy burst into tears and nodded his head in affirmation.
Locals have stepped up to aid those providing relief work. Beso, a Georgian pastor, has opened up his house for volunteers to have a place to sleep. His brother, Bakhva, has allowed workers to use his home as a command center.
Part of relief efforts have focused on doing light construction on an old shell of a building Beso’s church owns. Volunteers are pouring a concrete floor, hanging light bulbs and organizing the installation of windows and doors so they can use the facility as a base of operations for ongoing relief work to the refugees. Yet the volunteers see a different future for the structure.
“We have talked with the pastor about using these facilities as a church-planting and evangelism training center for national believers and pastors,” a volunteer said.
More workers are making plans to help the Georgian refugees. American groups from Kentucky, Oklahoma and Georgia are coming Sept 6-25, 9-22 and 12-20, respectively.
If you’re interested in volunteering with BGR, visit their website for information on where they are serving. Giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering is also a good way to contribute to ongoing disaster relief efforts by SB missionaries.
Posted by Karen Pearce on Sep 1, 2008
Similar: Georgia
