Virginia Baptist Volunteers Awarded for Disaster Relief Efforts

Tuesday, April 26, 2011 – Even in the midst of disasters, there's cause for celebration:

Distinguished Service Award
Marie Lawrence received this award for Region 1 during North American Mission Board's annual Awards Banquet, held at Eagle Eyrie on April 26, 2011. We celebrate her accomplishments, and continue to give thanks for her service to Virginia Baptists!

Friday, May 7, 2010 – Two couples in Virginia Baptist life received national recognition during the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief State Directors meeting, held April 26–28 in Green Lake, Wisconsin:

Joel W. Phillips Outstanding Achievement Award
Paul and Gerri McDaniel recently honored for years of their service, leadership, and commitment to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

Paul McDaniel is a member of Lynn Haven Baptist Church in Vinton. He has served as one of Virginia Baptists ‘white hat’ (overall coordinator) and as a ‘blue hat’ (unit leader) in recovery and shower since 2006. Paul is trained in feeding, recovery and water purification, and has served in nearly all of our multi-state responses and regularly leads smaller teams to the disasters that strike but do not get as much media attention as some of our other events.

Gerri McDaniel is a member of Belmont Baptist Church in Roanoke. Gerri is a retired parish nurse coordinator, and has been a ‘blue hat’ in crisis care chaplaincy since 2006. She is trained in feeding, recovery, administrative staff and crisis care chaplaincy, and, like her husband, has responded to both multi-state and more regional disaster call outs.

Both Paul and Gerri have been leaders for many years, and have helped guide and shape the ministry of Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief.

Distinguished Service Award
Patrick and Dana Johnson were also recently honored for their service to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, particularly during 2009. The Johnson’s are members of Moore’s Memorial BC in Gate City, Virginia where Patrick formerly served as pastor (now retired).

Patrick Johnson is a ‘blue hat’ in recovery & shower and a ‘white hat’ in feeding, water purification. He has training in feeding, recovery, water purification & crisis care chaplaincy.

Dana Johnson is a retired school teacher and is trained in feeding, temporary child care, administrative staff and crisis care chaplaincy.

In 2009, Patrick and Dana were both leaders in training and in the design and maintenance of several new units. One of their many outstanding moments was providing leadership to the feeding unit that was deployed during the late December snowstorm that gripped the southwest portion of our state. They served nearly nonstop for two weeks, delaying their Florida vacation plans and even rising early on Christmas morning to prepare meals for those in need.

The Virginia Baptist Mission Board wishes to thank both couples, along with all other Virginia Baptist volunteers, for their hard work and diligent efforts in support of our Disaster Relief ministry.

Your Help is Needed

Our regional training opportunities will help you become certified to serve as a VBMB Crisis Care Chaplain or work with our Feeding, Recovery, or Temporary Child Care units.

Financial contributions from Virginia Baptist individuals and churches will help to expand the number of victims that can be reached with these ministries of relief.

Make a donation online, or make checks payable to “Virginia Baptist Mission Board” (with the designation “Disaster Relief” on the memo line) and send them to:

Please contact Dean Miller or Nichole Prillaman with any questions
or requests related to our Disaster Relief ministry.

VBMB Disaster Relief ministries are supported by gifts to the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s
Cooperative Missions budget, the Alma Hunt Offering for Virginia Missions, and individual donations.

Your help is welcome and appreciated!
Make a donation to our Disaster Relief Ministries.