Bringing Hope to Flood Victims

Volunteers from around the country find satisfaction in helping people recover from storms in Georgia

When Jerry Bell saw the catastrophic flooding that inundated the Atlanta area, he knew he had to do something to help.

“God’s word tells us to love our neighbor, and the world’s our neighbor,” he said. “I really believe as Christians we need to be the hands and feet of Christ. I hear the talk, but I believe we should put some action to our talk.”

Bell signed up to work with Samaritan's Purse, and drove from his home in Monticello, Kentucky, to the Atlanta suburb of Dallas to work with one of our two Disaster Relief Units in the area.

He is one of the more than 375 volunteers who have worked with Samaritan's Purse to help flood victims overwhelmed by the scope of the disaster. Many are from churches in the Atlanta area. Others have come from New Mexico, Kentucky, South Carolina, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Florida, North Carolina, Louisiana, New York, Virginia, Tennessee, and West Virginia.

Bell arrived on Sept. 27, one of the first volunteers from out of the area, and immediately got to work helping homeowners remove their belongings from flooded houses, stripping ruined sheetrock off walls to allow wood to dry out, and spraying to kill mold.

“As we come in and strip the house and spray for mold and just stabilize it for them, it’s a great encouragement,” he said. “It’s good just to be able to help someone.”

The work took on eternal significance when he helped lead someone to faith in Christ.

A team of Atlanta-area volunteers had removed the belongings and stripped the sheetrock from a home that had been flooded with about eight feet of water. As Bell prepared to spray for mold, he struck up a conversation with the homeowner, his wife, and a neighbor. He explained that the crew was from Samaritan's Purse, and was working in God’s name.

“We take the time to talk with people, and to let them talk,” he said. “We want to be an example to them. The people know we’re a Christian organization. I think it’s a great witness.”

Bell returned the next day to finish spraying. The neighbor, a young lady in her early 20s named Mia, also came back to bring diapers for the homeowners’ baby.

Two chaplains from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association arrived at the same time. They told Mia about the forgiveness of sin and God’s gift of salvation available through faith in Jesus.

“She accepted Christ,” Bell said. “I encouraged her to read God’s word and to find a good church.”

Bell began volunteering in February 2008, when we responded to a tornado in Clinton, Arkansas. This is the sixth time he has worked with Samaritan's Purse.

“I’m just a hillbilly from Kentucky trying to do my part,” he said. “It’s hard work, but I get a lot out of it. There’s great satisfaction when you’re able to help someone. They don’t know what they’re going to do. They don’t know who to turn to. The government can do some things, but they don’t have the manpower.”

WAYS YOU CAN HELP

PRAY:

For the people impacted by the flooding, and for our staff and volunteers as they bring help and comfort.

GIVE:

$22 can provide a volunteer in Georgia or another U.S. disaster site with meals, camp lodging, showers, and other services for a day. Please visit our donation page to give.