DR work progresses in Arkansas and Mississippi while 10 ways a church can assist a missionary.

Easter weekend is a time for family, friends, and worship. For Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief workers, it was a time to serve survivors of the tornados that devastated parts of Central Arkansas on March 31.

Relief teams worshiped on Resurrection Day and found opportunities to pray with survivors and share the gospel—even seeing some trust Christ as Savior.

Crews from Texas headed to Arkansas within days of the tornados. 

A little further south in Mississippi, relief workers took a few days off to celebrate the Easter weekend, but have pick up their tools to help those affected by March storms.

A total of 4,023 meals were served and teams responded to 117 work requests for chainsaw, tarping, and debris removal were completed or closed prior to the [Easter] pause. 

The best news of all is that the teams had the opportunity for 88 ministry contacts, five Gospel presentations and recorded one profession of faith, according to officials in Mississippi.

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In the Baptist Press Toolbox, we hear from Chuck Lawless on how churches can come alongside missionaries. He offers 10 ways. Here’s a few of them.

1. Actually pray for them. This one’s probably not a surprise, but here’s the point: many churches say they pray for missionaries but seldom actually get there. Missionaries depend on your church’s prayer – so really do it. Regularly. Strategically. Passionately.
2. Plan your trips with their input. Too many churches do mission trips, but they make their plans and on-the-ground connections without talking with missionaries. That’s not helpful. 
3. Make a long-term commitment to work with them. One short-term trip can be helpful, but an ongoing commitment that allows for strategic partnership is better. 
4. Ask them what you can bring them. Maybe it’s food they can’t get where they live, or a book that costs too much to ship, or something for their kids.