Missouri Baptists Aid St. Louis After Deadly Storms
Baptist churches across Missouri continue helping St. Louis respond to the recent deadly storms. “This is a time when partnership in mission work is essential,” Darren Casper, executive director of St. Louis Metro Baptist Association, told “The Pathway.” “The historic May 16 tornado in the heart of St. Louis has shown why relationships leading to partnership work are so very important.”
Pastor Robert Lloyd of Calvary Bible Church in Florissant responded immediately. “Friday night, I was in contact with several pastors before I went to work,” he said. “I couldn’t believe the devastation that I saw. We provided hot dogs and secured a generator to work through the night. The next day, we planned a group to do a search and rescue.”
Meals were a major need for the city without power. Gaylon Moss, director of Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief, said his crew was soon on site. “We prepared more than 2,000 meals over the weekend for first responders and survivors,” he said. He also reported that his organization sent chainsaws and chaplains and distributed flashlights and batteries. The group also plans to set up a charging station for the community to use. This kind of community-driven disaster relief reflects how local faith organizations have historically contributed to recovery after extreme weather events.
Pastor Carlos Smith of Refresh Community Church in University City said his church is open as a Red Cross shelter. “Many of these people are traumatized, because they were in a tough spot before the storm,” he said. “Our whole church has mobilized to help in some way. We had a short and sweet service on Sunday, and after the service, we had 300 to 400 people serving all over North City, distributing food to some of the hardest hit.” Community support like this is key, especially in the aftermath of violent seasonal storms that have caused major loss and disruption in Missouri.
Ultimately, Missouri Baptists desire to share Jesus as they minister to the people of St. Louis. “We want to be light in the darkness,” Moss said. “Many ask us why we are working in the area, and it gives us an opportunity to share.” Loyd agreed that sharing God’s love is essential. “They are seeing the gospel in the presence of the church,” he said. “They really need to feel the presence of God and to see compassion in His people. People want to know that we care. One of the guys addressed me as pastor, and another guy was shocked to hear I was a pastor, it led to more discussion of Christians working, loving and caring. Living our love codifies the message of Christ.”
As St. Louis communities continue to rebuild, disaster relief and the role of faith groups remain critical. Experience has shown that for every dollar invested in pre-storm mitigation and community readiness, the return in economic and emotional recovery is significant.. The resilient response of Missouri Baptists stands as a testament to the power of collective faith in action, echoing similar stories of church-driven support in the wake of tornadoes in Missouri’s history.
–Alan Goforth
