Texas Baptists family partnering to ‘rally behind’ Kerr County flood relief

Editor’s Note: Article has been updated to reflect current statistics and relief efforts 

DALLAS — Texans On Mission (TXM), the disaster relief ministry of Texas Baptists, is making efforts to assess and meet needs on the ground in Kerr County after heavy rainfall led to the flooding of the Guadalupe River on Friday, July 4. 

Recent reports estimated that 109 lives have been lost due to the flooding, with many more still unaccounted for. At least 27 campers and staff were killed, and six remain missing from an all-girl nondenominational Christian camp in the area. 

Texans on Mission to deploy Monday 

TXM Director of Communications Aimee Freston said there are chaplains and assessors already in Kerr County “ministering to families” and “identifying the needs” of residents in the community.

She said TXM sent their first teams on Monday, July 7. 

“We have begun gathering the names and addresses of people who need assistance so we can make sure that we respond accordingly. We’re identifying the needs to best help residents start the first step in the recovery process. Flood recovery teams will begin work on Thursday, July 10 and will stay as long as we’re needed" said Freston.

Freston said a couple of days after the water has receded, ground crews such as electrical, flooring, asset protection and flood recovery will join the initially deployed teams to assist the community.

Rallying behind Kerr County

Chad Schapiro, Area 4 representative for Texas Baptists, said he is working with TXM Volunteer Coordinator Nathan Buchanan to create “a registration link where people can sign up to volunteer” to go live as soon as possible. 

Schapiro said, “A lot of our pastors are calling me and asking, ‘What are we doing [to help]?’” and are excited to partner with Texans on Mission to support the Hill Country. 

“It’s been exciting to see the responses of the local churches to try to figure out what they can do to help. Many of them are ready to link up with Texans On Mission,” said Schapiro. “It’s been great to see our pastors start rallying behind [this].”

Schapiro said local authorities are “cautioning [volunteers] from going to the area too quickly” as more rain is forecasted for Sunday. But, he said he is thankful that San Antonio area pastors are “getting organized with Texans on Mission and [their efforts]” to “rally behind [them] and get a lot of help out that way” in the coming days. 

Schapiro asked people to pray specifically for:

• The persons still missing; that they would be found alive
• The families of those still missing
• The families of those who have lost loved ones
• Texas Baptists and Texans On Mission as both partner and discern how best to meet needs
• More volunteers, funds and an abundance of resources to be able to help impacted communities in the best way possible

To give a financial gift in support of disaster relief efforts, churches and individuals may give through the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation by clicking here. Simply write in “TXM” or “Disaster Relief” to designate a gift, and dollars will be distributed as quickly as possible to support Texans On Mission disaster relief efforts. 

More information about the Texans On Mission response may be found at  texansonmission.org/hillcountry.