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Pastor Reaves Spearheads South Carolina Storm Relief Effort

The catastrophic floods striking South Carolina will go down in the history books, not only because of the lives they've taken or the destruction they've wrought, but also because of the sheer amount of rainfall. By the time the last raindrop is counted, the October 2015 storm will go down as one of the most prolific rainfall events in the modern history of the United States.  Thousands of residents were under a boil-water advisory, or had no water at all, and gathered at bottled water distribution sites established by the state. 

Unfortunately several of the "historically Black" communities (Kingtree, Manning, Richland County, Georgetown, Conway, Jamestown, etc.) were hardest hit.  And these areas that faced the most devastation were mostly ignored and/or not provided relief by FEMA!!  However on October 7, 2015, Pastor Reaves visited the area and provided a truck load of bottled water to the residents.  

During the Chadbourn Fellowship Alliance (CFA) service on October 11, 2015 Pastor Reaves, Vice President of this organization, shared his experiences in South Carolina and how the people (especially Black residents) were in dire need of water, cleaning supplies, etc.  At that time the CFA voted to donate the offering and money collected to these affected residents.  Each church also donated funds that totalled approximately $1,500!  So on the following week, a contingent and convoy of pickup trucks carried water and other supplies to Richland County to help our brothers and sisters!

Upon hearing about the South Carolina relief efforts of Pastor Reaves and the CFA, the Lumber River Missionary Baptist Association, Lumberton, NC called on Pastor Reaves to facilitate and direct that organization (and even more trucks) in taking water, supplies, and other relief to the affected areas.  At the recent conference of the General Baptist State Convention (GBSC) of North Carolina, Rev. Dr. Nilous M. Avery, II, President of the GBSC, lauded and publicly recognized Rev. Reaves and southeastern North Carolina for their relief efforts in South Carolina.

On November 18, 2015 the Women's Ministry of First Missionary Baptist Church loaded up the church van with relief supplies and other support to the residents.  This effort was coordinated by Sis. Janice Evans, Chairperson of the Women's Ministry and Bro. Wayne Dunn.   Additional support and relief is still needed due to the devastation.  First Missionary Baptist Church will not forget our brothers and sisters in South Carolina!

To God be the Glory!!