A woman sits in her new car in Valdosta, Georgia. (Submitted)
The men’s ministry at Hot Springs Baptist Church on Tuesday, Oct. 29, delivered five vehicles to Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, Georgia, to be utilized by individuals devastated by Hurricane Helene.
On Sept. 26, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida just southwest of Perry as a dangerous Category 4 hurricane with wind speeds of 140 mph, life-threatening storm surge, and torrential rains.
The storm was a fast-moving storm that tracked northward rapidly with impacts in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Southwest Virginia. It has caused historic rainfall flooding, wind damage, and generated some tornado activity.
Pastor Robby Foster of Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta said the area was devastated.
“It’s overwhelming. You see roads, houses, just totally destroyed. You go down some roads and see nothing but tarps on homes, four or five trees on homes. … It just left a lot of devastation,” he said.
The Rev. Mike Smith, who serves as the pastor to senior adults and pastoral care at Hot Springs Baptist Church, said the men at the church were weighed down with a heavy burden to assist those affected by the hurricane. After much prayer and discussion, Smith said the men decided to get some cars and take them to Georgia. Since Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief was already in Valdosta, they made that their destination.
Smith said the vehicles are not new, but they are good cars that have gone through some repairs and checks. On Monday, Smith said they would be able to give the pastor of the Northside Baptist Church five cars with five clean titles and pay a first month insurance liability premium for the new owners.
“We just want to be a blessing to them,” Smith said.
Smith noted the church did not buy the cars; the men bought them with money out of their own pockets. They purchased the cars and did the necessary repairs. The vehicles were to be distributed at the discretion of Foster and his elders and deacons.
“We’re super grateful for their generosity. The gift was incredible. They brought them in last night, we’ve already given three cars out today,” Foster said on Wednesday. “They’ve lost a lot, and it just meant the world to them. It’s been overwhelming, the generosity of Arkansas Baptists to come and serve our community, get us back on our feet. We know God has restored us.”