Preparing For Tomorrow

July 2009

At this writing, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention takes place this week to discuss and consider future challenges and opportunities facing us in the coming year. In a sense, this meeting is an effort to prepare us for what lies ahead.

I recently became aware of a national survey addressing personal preparedness in America. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the nation’s progress on personal preparedness and to measure the public’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relative to preparing for a range of hazards.

Key Findings:

Although 78% of respondents believe that preparation, planning, and emergency supplies will help them handle a natural disaster, at least 4 in 10 felt preparations would not make any difference, and at least 27% stated they were not planning to do anything about preparing.

Almost 40% of respondents reported that a primary reason for not preparing is that they believe emergency responders will help them. The sad truth is that a single natural disaster will almost surely overwhelm every community’s ability to respond within the first few hours of the event. As a nation and as communities we are known for underestimating potential threats.

To me, perhaps the most disturbing result reported was that 37% of those surveyed thought a natural disaster would never affect their community. With the wide variety of natural disasters reported throughout our country in a single year, I find myself wondering where they live. I must admit that I am one that tends to pay attention to reported disastrous events and am convinced that no one is immune to disaster, natural or man caused.

Another equally disturbing reported result was that less than 1 in 5 believed there was any threat of an act of terrorism to their communities. This head-in-the-sand point of view must surely come from a belief that our government has somehow corralled all potential terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan. A quick look at the history of Oklahoma City will reveal the folly of that belief.

The point to this article is that we, as individuals and churches, are not prepared to take the lead in our communities when disaster strikes. There are too few of us who even consider that a disastrous event could be in our future. Worse yet, we as individuals and churches are ill prepared to help our neighbors in need during a disaster. People are never more open to the good news that God loves them than during times of personal disaster.
Perhaps our single greatest opportunity to help a person find Jesus as savior is as we serve their needs following a calamity.

For us to survive a disaster we must be prepared. Fathers must plan for the survival of their families. Pastors must plan for the survival of their flock, and we all must plan to take the lead in helping our neighbors overcome disaster.

Your local association leadership and the KNCSB disaster relief team desire to assist you as you prepare.  The work you do in preparation today allows you to lead in tomorrow’s time of need.

Will you step up and assist your pastor and local association missionary as they prepare to lead not only their churches but also their communities in times of disaster?

I am counting on you. God bless you as you serve and lead as the heart and hands of Jesus today.

For more information or to join us as we prepare to lead our communities from disaster to salvation call or email me. (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) - (316) 204-7889)

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