Posted on Mar 25, 2003 | by Shawn Hendricks

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP)--As cold and hungry refugees flee hostilities in Iraq and find themselves in refugee camps, some Southern Baptists in the United States are anxious to help.

Baptists and other evangelicals in Jordan began assisting refugee camps on the country's border with Iraq in mid-March. Since then, Southern Baptists in the United States, like Sam Porter, have wondered how they can join in the effort.

"This is not just a great opportunity to do humanitarian work but to share God's love," said Porter, men's state disaster relief director for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Southern Baptist disaster relief teams throughout the United States are on alert, said Mickey Caison, disaster relief coordinator with the North American Mission Board in Atlanta. Many of these teams could be packing their bags for Jordan very soon. In addition to Oklahoma, both Georgia and Texas have voiced interest in sending teams to assist with the relief efforts.

READY TO GO

For Porter, it's an opportunity he and several members of his team wouldn't want to miss. About 10 or 15 men on Oklahoma's team have expressed an interest in helping with the relief efforts.

"They know the importance of it. They were ready to go last week," said Porter, whose team provided assistance immediately following traumatic events such as the Oklahoma City bombing and the Sept. 11 attacks.

"We want to be there to serve ...," he said. "My wife is a little concerned, but that is natural. Most of the people who know me, know that we're going to respond."

People continue to call, wanting to know how they can help, said Jim Brown, consultant for world hunger and relief ministries at the International Mission Board. For now, he is encouraging volunteers to wait and be ready when the opportunity opens up.

"Everything is so fluid right now, we really don't yet know specifically what we can do and where because of the military action going on," he said. "So we're having to let that play itself out."

Brown said the IMB has provided about $200,000 in hunger funds and $50,000 in general relief funds. All that money went directly toward the purchase of relief materials for the refugees.

LONG-TERM GOAL

The long-term goal is to develop relationships with the people of Iraq "so we can be involved in job training, educational projects, agricultural projects and other things to help people better their lives physically" -- and share the unconditional love of Christ to transform their lives spiritually, Brown said.

Southern Baptist workers in Jordan continue to look for ways others can come in and assist with relief efforts once the war situation becomes more stable.

When that time comes, Porter and his team will be ready.

"We understand that the individual people of Iraq have done nothing to hurt us," he said. "We want to help them to have freedom and true freedom in Jesus Christ."
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(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: READY AGAIN.
Contributions may be mailed to: Iraq Response, P.O. Box 6767, Richmond, VA 23230-0767. Make checks payable to International Mission Board and designate "Iraq Response - General Relief." Every dollar given will go 100 percent to relief ministries.
Give online: resources.imb.org/index.cfm/fa/prod/ProdID/961.htm.
Ready to serve? going.imb.org/vim/main/ready_to_serve.asp.
More on Iraq relief efforts: www.imb.org/urgent.
AUDIO: Meeting refugee needs:
www.imb.org/urgent/articledetail.asp?urgentID=21.
Interactive map of the Middle East: www.imb.org/urgent/map.asp.