Photos are from various Oklahoma Disaster Relief responses.

The 2026 year has seen an uptick in tornadic activity in Oklahoma. In late April alone, a series of damaging tornadoes caused widespread damage in multiple areas and communities in Oklahoma.

Amid the devastation and wreckage, Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) volunteers stepped up to serve people in need.

“We always want to provide help, hope and healing to the people impacted by storms,” said Jason Yarbrough, Oklahoma Baptist DR state director.

Among the many areas impacted by spring storms and tornadoes, Oklahoma Baptist DR served in the Enid area, which was struck by a devastating EF-4 tornado on April 23. In addition to tornado recovery, Oklahoma Baptist DR volunteers were serving in wildfire relief and other areas.

DR Team Recovers Wedding Rings, Among Ash from Burned Home

In late February, wildfires spread across northern Oklahoma, burning thousands of acres in the Oklahoma Panhandle, including in Gate, a small town in Beaver County. Doug and Debra Little, who live in Ditch Valley adjacent to Beaver County and attend Laverne, First, were among the many who were affected.

Debra Little’s wedding ring had been melted into other pieces of jewelry. Photo courtesy of Doug Little.

At first, they thought the fires would go past them, however the wind suddenly changed and pushed the flames towards their home. The Littles were out of town on a work-related trip, but rushed home when they heard the change in direction of the fire. According to Doug Little, by early morning the next day, the fire had swept through their property. Their house, along with most of their property, had been destroyed by the fire. Thankfully most of their farm animals survived. Little said that evidence he found suggested the flames had reached 50 to 60 feet tall.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) ash out teams arrived and offered to help clean out the area. The Littles agreed and asked the team if they could look specifically for their wedding rings.

“Deb was really hoping we could find our wedding rings,” Doug Little said. “I didn’t think there was a chance of them finding those rings.”

The DR team went to work sifting through the ash and debris. Miraculously, the ash out team was able to find the rings. Intense heat had melted the two rings beyond repair, but they could still be discerned against the rest of the debris. Debra’s ring had been melded into a composite of other metals and jewelry.

“Man, those Baptists know how to dig through rubble,” Little said on Facebook. “Two things I’ve learned from this fire: one, is it’s crazy what survives and what doesn’t and two, God is good.”
After the ordeal, Doug had his ring welded together with Debra’s, symbolizing their eternal bond not only to each other but to Christ as well.

DR did all they could to help clean the Littles’ property. In addition to the physical support, the DR team also provided emotional and spiritual support to the Littles. The team left the couple with a Bible. Inside, along with ash fingerprints, the team left notes of encouragement and verse highlights. Little said they didn’t plan on cleaning off the fingerprints anytime soon.

“As big as the crew, machinery and physical work is, the emotional and spiritual support they provided was even larger,” said Little. “That Bible is something we will treasure forever. We know God has a plan and that it’s going to be perfect.”

DR has countless stories like these where teams can go in and reunite natural disaster victims with their physical belongings, but DR isn’t just focused on physical healing. They also bring help, hope and healing of a spiritual nature.

“We have the privilege of seeing people come to faith every year through this ministry,” said Oklahoma DR Director Jason Yarbrough.

In 2025, DR had about 120 Gospel conversations with homeowners. Of those 120, 10 made professions
of faith.

“Every 10 times we have a Gospel conversation with a homeowner, or somebody impacted by the storms, we’re seeing somebody pray to receive Christ,” said Yarbrough. “The Kingdom impact is out there, and
it’s incredible.”

From Fire Victim to DR Volunteer

After witnessing DR work, Doug Little felt God was calling him to volunteer. Photo courtesy of Doug Little.

Recently, Little went through DR training and received his certification as a DR volunteer.

“It’s been something I’ve thought about for a while now,” he said. “After what happened to our house I just felt like Jesus was tapping on my shoulder, telling me it was time.”

DR provides trained chaplains who go to response sites with other teams to help provide spiritual healing which sometimes extends to the volunteers as well.

Responding to natural disasters can place a mental toll on volunteers. When volunteers need it, chaplains are there to have spiritual conversations or just listen to what they share. This can open doors to spiritual conversations that lead to life change if the volunteer hasn’t already made a profession of faith.

When natural disasters hit, Oklahoma Baptist DR is there to help those affected recover. Whether it be sifting through debris to find personal belongings or seeking to have spiritual conversations, DR is equipped to handle the task.

“I would encourage anyone who can to help and support DR,” said Little. “I don’t think the people on that team know the blessing they are.”

Yarbrough appeared on the Messenger Insight podcast earlier this year to talk about disaster relief and tell the story of the wedding rings. That episode can be found here.

A Brief history of Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief
On December 11, 1973, the Oklahoma Baptists Board of Directors adopted a structured disaster relief plan. It organized volunteers across local church, association, and state convention levels to provide financial aid, emergency assistance, and rebuilding repairs. Early efforts included rebuilding earthquake-damaged churches in Alaska and providing over $25,000 in flooding aid to the Enid area. Following a devastating 1974 tornado in Drumright and Olive, the state established a permanent Disaster Relief fund through budget allocations.

The ministry has grown from a single mass-feeding team into a massive operation. More than 2,500 trained members are organized into five geographic zones across Oklahoma to ensure rapid deployment. During the 2004 Florida hurricanes, volunteers set a record by preparing over 14,600 hot meals in a single day using a large mobile kitchen unit.

Disaster Relief’s Services

The scope of care now extends far beyond food preparation. Specialized teams address diverse physical and emotional needs during crises:

  • Clean-up Operations: Teams perform chainsaw debris removal, mud-out and ash-out services.
  • Logistics & Hygiene: Volunteers deploy water purification, mobile showers and laundry units.
  • Spiritual Care: Chaplains distribute Bibles and offer emotional and spiritual support.

To make a tax-deductible donation to Oklahoma Baptist DR, visit okdisasterhelp.org.