The Son & the Sand
www.barefootbelievers.com – October 2004
Preparing for the Worst & Hoping for the Best
Thea and I prepared for the worst and hoped for the best on Tuesday, September 14th. We boarded up our windows, with the help of my uncle Chuck and my Dad, and then we get out of town. The 350 mile journey to Gadsden took about 10 hours due to the heavy traffic of like-minded south Alabamians. Three days later I made the journey back home to check on our house in Foley. I drove home on highway 31. I waited in line for gasoline, along with 30 other vehicles, at a convenient store in Greenville. The path of the hurricane and its heartbreaking effects were evident for over one hundred miles. As you pray for people in our area, please continue to remember others in Greenville, Atmore, Brewton, Evergreen, and other areas north, east, and west of us.
Finally after the long drive home, I made it back to our driveway in Foley. What I found surprised me. Everything at 306 Woodbridge Court (our house) was in good shape. There were no trees on our house, no broken windows, or serious damage, but the devastation of the hurricane was evident. Our neighborhood still looks like a war zone. Piles of limbs and debris are all around. We were happy to discover our place in good shape; however, we were saddened by the stories from friends and neighbors regarding the damage the hurricane dealt to so many homes and families. The cleanup will likely take several months. Please pray for the safety of area workers and volunteers. We pray for God’s grace and mercy to be discovered in the lives of people in our community and in the surrounding communities.
Since Ivan Passed Through Our Area, I’ve Been Seeing Lots of Yellow
Upon arriving home, I began volunteering regularly at the Disaster Relief Center at the First Baptist Church of Robertsdale. Disaster Relief volunteers can almost always be found wearing bright yellow shirts and hats. These volunteers have come from many different areas to assist in countless ways. I was already familiar with the work of Disaster Relief due to my partners in ministry at the Baldwin Baptist Association that do these types of relief ministries regularly in places like Georgia, Kentucky, and even overseas.
My parents, Glenn and Julia Ford, are also involved in a disaster relief group with the Etowah Baptist Association (EBA) in Gadsden, AL. It was a wonderful blessing to partner with my Dad and other EBA volunteers last week in Foley, Gulf Shores, Elberta, and Fairhope. I have volunteered to be a “limb puller.” No training is needed for this kind of work; however, the team members I worked with were skilled in the use of chainsaws. Since I didn’t have the special training, I did not attempt to handle a chainsaw. I’m sure my partners in ministry were wise to keep that tool out of my hands. One of the chainsaw crews that I worked with helped Clyde, a resident of Elberta, cut a tree off of his home. As we prayed with Clyde at the end of the day, he blessed all of our hearts with a tear jerking prayer of thanks for the ministry of our disaster relief team. Our work at Clyde’s and several other homes was an amazing blessing for everyone involved.
My Dad has worked at ground zero in New York City and many other disaster sites since I began working on Alabama’s gulf coast. He has heard a lot from me about Gulf Area Resort Ministries over the last five years, and I have heard a lot from him about disaster relief work. Now we each have stories to share since we worked together with disaster relief. It was really wonderful to combine our ministry efforts in the midst of such a difficult time in Baldwin County. Please continue to pray for all of those that wear their yellow shirts and yellow hats. Pray that God would continue to use volunteers like the folks from Baldwin and Etowah County to make an impact on the hurting people that have been affected by Hurricane Ivan. Like many others, we pray that we will keep “seeing yellow” and the ministry of disaster relief volunteers will continue to touch the lives of those in need.
Down on the Coast
Through my work with disaster relief, I have been able to survey some of the damage on coast. I’ve sure you have seen a portion of the damage on television. One condo we visited had the roof taken off by the hurricane winds. Pray for those that have lost their places of residence. Pray for the safety of those cleaning up the most devastated areas: workers, military, volunteers, and everyone involved.
Please pray for our friends at Gulf State Park as they coordinate and organize the cleanup efforts at the 400+ campsites and hotel. We will probably know more toward the end of October or sometime in November when our resort worship services will resume at the state park. Our participation and ministry at the state park will resume as soon as possible; however, we will not know the status of the park for at least a month. Please remember to pray for the workers. Pray for their protection and safety as they deal with the difficult tasks of restoring the park to a safe environment. Currently the park is closed to the public.
I recently had a great conversation with the owner of Island Retreat RV on Fort Morgan Road. Island Retreat is open for business, and they are all booked up for snowbird season. Snowbird ministry at Island Retreat RV will begin in the near future. We also hope to provide ministry opportunities at various other snowbird “nests” (The Plantation Resort, Gulf Breeze RV, Luxury RV, and hopefully some other locations).
After the Storm / Prayer Concerns
We appreciate your prayer support. Thank you for your continued encouragement and concern. Here’s a brief list of our latest prayer requests:
Disaster Relief Efforts at the First Baptist Church of Orange Beach, First Baptist Church of Robertsdale, Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida, First Baptist Church of Atmore, AL, and various other relief works that are ongoing in South Alabama and Florida
Alabama & Florida residents and workers dealing with the difficulties of the aftermath of the hurricane…pray for their safety and God’s peace to reign in their hearts in these troubling times
Kristen Garrett…a summer missionary from this past summer is attending school in London, England…she has plans to begin a Bible study and is also partner with a local church to be a minister / missionary while she is there…pray for Kristen as she continues to be “on mission” for Christ
Our annual meeting is this month…October 18-19…pray that we would be energized by this wonderful event…pray that we would seek God’s direction for Gulf Area Resort Ministries and the many other ministries of the Baldwin Baptist Association
Joe Friman and Baptist Campus Ministries in Bay Minette, AL…pray for Joe as he ministers to students on the campus
Snowbird Ministries…pray for God’s direction and guidance
Foley High School…pray for Thea as she makes a difference in the lives of students
NOBTS, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary…I am currently taking a Greek Class and a Preaching Class, the hurricane threw a monkey wrench in my study habits and preparations…pray for me as I get back to work on Monday at the Pensacola extension center
Upcoming mission trips this month…I’ve talked to several different groups that are interested in partnering with the resort ministry and local churches to provide assistance in the hurricane cleanup efforts…pray for all the details to be worked out…pray specifically for Madison Baptist Association (arriving October 3rd) and Jacksonville State University’s Baptist Campus Ministries (arriving October 15th)…we hope to enlist others as well
Safety & Protection…so much damage in the area requires lots of hard work…I know I’ve mentioned this already, but please remember to pray for the safety and protection of residents, workers, and cleanup volunteers
Revival…pray for revival in the hearts of those that are seeing or have experienced the devastation of the hurricane…we pray that God will touch someone’s heart with the love of Jesus Christ…in a time of restoration of the land God can bring restoration of the soul through the forgiveness, grace, hope, and peace that can only be found through the Son
Please pray for everyone at the Baldwin Baptist Association and Gulf Area Resort Ministries as we assess the needs of our county…pray that God would motivate us with the love of Christ and guide us to identify & meet needs
Don’t hesitate to send me your prayer requests as well. I want to pray for my friends and partners in this ministry. It helps me know how I can pray for you specifically.
Remember This
I actually used this passage in last month’s newsletter. Due to recent events, I believe it is fitting to remind you of this powerful Scripture once again:
Psalm 93:3-4
The mighty oceans have roared, O Lord. The mighty oceans roar like thunder; the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore. But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore-the Lord above is mightier than these!
