The disaster relief ministry of the South Carolina Baptist Convention has received consistently high marks through the years for its quick, effective and compassionate response in tragedy’s wake.
Now this ministry, which has trained thousands of volunteers who stand ready around the clock to help heal disaster’s hurt, has received more than praise; it is the recipient of an anonymous gift of $1 million from a South Carolina Baptist layman and his wife.
In a statement released to The Baptist Courier, Cliff Satterwhite, who is disaster relief director for South Carolina Baptists, said, “This generous gift from these disaster relief volunteers will enable us to continue our ministry in disaster relief and to expand our South Carolina Baptist goal of reaching people for God’s kingdom.”
Satterwhite said the gift, which was unsolicited, will “enable every South Carolina disaster relief team to have Bibles, New Testaments and tracts to share the love of Jesus Christ with disaster victims.”
In the same statement, Carlisle Driggers, the convention’s executive director, described the convention’s work in disaster relief as “exemplary” and said that the gift “will enable us to continue to improve our disaster-relief efforts and to increase our opportunities to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people who have experienced a personal crisis.”
Driggers praised “the generosity and compassion of this fine Baptist couple,” adding: “Their gift has certainly inspired me and reassured me of so many South Carolina Baptists who love Jesus and the Great Commission.”
James Wright, the convention’s associate executive director and chief financial officer, said in the statement: “This is a wonderful example of volunteers seeing a need and having the vision and personal resources to respond in a tremendous way.”
Disaster relief provided by South Carolina Baptists traces its beginnings to 1989, when Hurricane Hugo hit the South Carolina coast between Charleston and Myrtle Beach.