By Hubert Yates
Correspondent
In response to the Jackson water crisis, supplemental pumps installed at the O. B. Curtis Water Plant and repairs to several existing pumps have resulted in the highest water pressure in several years, according to reports from plant operators.
Above ground tanks are filling or have filled in recent days. It will still take time to again get clean water flowing through the system, but the necessary steps are being made.
Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief (MBDR), First Church/Jackson, and several of their affiliated ministry partners continue to collaborate in serving the underserved — homebound, elderly, infirm, disabled, etc. – by scheduling personal deliveries to them by Mississippi Baptists.
We have had several good visits and opportunities to minister to the recipients of the water with both a ministry of presence and ministry of prayer. This opportunity is expected to continue through the coming week. Already served have been:
— Several apartment complexes that cater to the elderly.
— A large pre-K/daycare facility where working parents have their children.
— Members of the State of Mississippi’s Child Protective Services Department who have to maintain a presence in the lives of children.
— Elderly members of several inner city churches.
— Over 100 individual residents who are homebound in some way.
If you have time in your schedule and would like to volunteer to make a delivery or two or three, contact Deanna Vail in the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board’s Disaster Relief Department at dvail@mbcb.org.
Delivery teams depart the MBDR temporary warehouse in Jackson each day at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each recipient of the bottled water receives a week’s worth per delivery. You can also deliver on your lunch break or on your way home. We will work with you!
Teams are preferred for safety purposes, so recruit a partner and join this important ministry effort. The process is simple. All the delivery and reporting information is on one sheet.
— Contact the recipient.
— Verify the address
— Let them know you’re coming.
— Deliver the water.
— Share the Gospel with them and have prayer.
— Report on the visit for an accurate number of Gospel presentations and salvations.
At the current time, the situational need is for bulk, palletized bottled water. MBDR is seeking to obtain only bulk, palletized bottled water for use in the distribution system. Please do not conduct “water collection drives” as collection, transportation, storage, and distribution at this point are a time-, cost-, and manpower-intensive operation.
Please assist us by monetary contribution for bulk purchases, designated to MBDR-Jackson Water Crisis, online at Giving – Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (mbcb.org), or by mail at MBCB, P. O. Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205-0530.
These tax-deductible contributions allow us to purchase bulk delivery by tractor trailer load to facilitate handling and speed delivery to the people who are most in need
Please pray for city and state leaders for wisdom and knowledge to quickly resolve the issues; for those who are being affected that they will realize and know the fullness of the hope
of Jesus in troubling times; and for the congregations/volunteers who are responding to meet the needs of others.
If you are a MBDR volunteer and or member of a Mississippi Baptist Convention congregation that desires to come alongside Metro Association and their congregations in their ministry to the residents of the City of Jackson during this crisis through volunteering or contributing to the effort, and/or need additional information, please contact MBDR at hyates@mbcb.org, or by telephone at (601) 292-3334.
Yates is director of disaster relief for the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
