SBTC church members minister to Katrina victims through vocations

“Just another day at the office” has taken on a whole new meaning for several Texas Southern Baptists who are using their ordinary vocations to provide extraordinary aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Glenn Freeman of Grand Prairie is using his 30-plus years of military experience on the frontlines of Katrina’s destruction: New Orleans. According to his wife, Toni, her husband has served in the United States Air Force and the Air National Guard. He was activated by the Guard and sent to New Orleans where he is helping to set up a tent city in the ravaged community. Due to the destruction, communication with Freeman is sparse, but his duties might be expanded to include search and rescue and recovery operations.

Freeman, who works for Sprint, was called to serve for a year in Fort Worth following the 9/11 attacks and has been struck by what he’s seen in New Orleans, his wife said. “He e-mailed and said it was like being in a whole other country.”

Ben Peterson of Keller might have felt like he was in another country as he tried to fulfill his duties as a prime medical supply vendor following the hurricane. Peterson’s territory includes Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama?all affected by the storm. In addition, the regional distribution facility near Lake Ponchartrain was knocked out of commission. “We had to redirect all of our products,” Peterson said.

While many of the hospitals he services in New Orleans were closed, other hospitals in the region were overflowing with casualties and had a great need for medical supplies. “It was unbelievable. We were struggling from our inventory to try to get product to the hospitals,” Peterson said. Also, communication breakdowns complicated the efforts. “We had a hard time getting in contact with hospitals,” he said.

Peterson was so engrossed in trying to make sure hospitals had what they needed that he didn’t realize the scope of Katrina’s destruction for several days.

“I had been so busy. My focus had been on what I was trying to do,” Peterson said. “I reached a point last week and I stopped and watched TV. It broke my heart. It was gut-wrenching.”

The distribution center Peterson uses is now fully operational again.

But while structures are being repaired, it will be some time before the lives of the hurricane victims are back to normal again. Working through school districts across Texas, many children will begin to rebuild by going back to school.

At Grand Prairie Independent School District, Southern Baptist Patty Busby serves as secretary to the superintendent, helping to welcome 146 children of evacuees. GPISD is not only enrolling students in school, but is also helping provide assistance in the form of food, clothing, and housing.

“It’s just part of my job,” Busby said. “We are working with all our school principals and social workers and the superintendent to get everyone on the same page.” The superintendent is also working to get the city of Grand Prairie on board with the relief effort. “We are trying to get these kids into a stable environment.”

Busby said the district is working with families to make sure students have a place to learn even if it means making exceptions to the norm. For instance, one apartment complex that is housing victims is split between two different schools.

“We are trying to let them go to other schools even outside the boundary,” Busby said. “We don’t want schools to be overcrowded.”

Workers have also heard incredible stories of how people are surviving after Katrina, according to Busby. She had a report of one family with 78 people living under one roof. Of the 78, more than 25 were school-aged children.

Despite the overwhelming numbers and the increased workload, Busby believes this effort is her responsibility.

“As a Christian, there was no question I would be participating,” Busby said. “If we felt inside about what Christ did for us like we do when we see the pictures on TV, there would be no question that we would share our faith. It’s not just a Christian obligation. It’s a moral obligation.”

Lynn Cunningham of Grapevine is trying to fulfill her Christian obligation each day as a transitio