Oklahomans know that storm season can be a difficult time of the year. Tornadoes, flooding and hail are all common occurrences across the country during the earlier months, but where there is storm damage, there are also Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) teams assisting those in need both physically and spiritually.

On Sun., June 1, Oklahoma Baptist and Southern Baptist churches across the convention have an opportunity to highlight DR ministries and the thousands of volunteers who serve on DR teams across the nation. Jason Yarbrough, director of Oklahoma Baptist DR, encourages all DR volunteers to wear their yellow shirts to church services on Sunday and include times of recognizing volunteers, prayer and highlighting the need to support DR.

“Our ministry to those impacted by disaster is really an extension of the mission and ministry of the local church as we become the hands and feet of Jesus to advance the Gospel through disasters,” said Yarbrough. “When our churches take a few moments in a service to recognize, pray and honor those who respond to disasters through this ministry, it is not only a huge encouragement to our volunteers, but also a chance to highlight a ministry that the church is a part of and supports.”

Oklahoma DR started in 1973 as a feeding ministry, providing a cup of cold water and a warm meal to those in need. Today it has grown to include chainsaw teams, flood and fire recovery, showers and laundry, chaplains, assessors, incident command teams and an arsenal of equipment to allow these individuals to better do the work God has called them to do. Oklahoma DR is a part of the larger Southern Baptist DR network which includes all 50 states, allowing Oklahoma to do so much more together than they could ever do alone.

For more information about Oklahoma DR, visit https://www.okdisasterhelp.org/.

For a quick informational video that can be shown at church services, click here!

Oklahoma DR 2024 Fast Facts

  • Oklahoma DR teams were active for 220 days serving not only Oklahoma, but also 5 other states (New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and North Carolina)
  • Feeding teams prepared more than 39,000 meals, recovery teams logged more than 44,000 work hours, nearly 3,000 showers were provided and more than 1,500 loads of laundry were done.
  • 3,800 ministry contacts were made, 375 Gospel conversations were had, 30 individuals made professions of faith and 400 Bibles were distributed to homeowners.