Earlier this week the Pensacola area experienced extensive damage from flash flooding caused by record rainfall. Although our FBC Pensacola campus only experienced minor damage, many in our church family and community experienced extensive catastrophic damage.

Additionally, the explosion at the Escambia County Jail has placed additional responsibility on our local leaders, law enforcement officials, and first responders.

I am extremely grateful for the volunteers who jumped into action assisting with cleanup on our campus and around the community. Many have asked, “What can I do to help?”

The damage is severe in several locations.  I have personally surveyed the damage in the communities near Cordova Park, East Hill, Car City, and West Pensacola. I have not yet seen the damage in Gulf Breeze and Cantonment.

After conversations with community leaders and area pastors, we all recognize that the damage to homes is widespread, that most do not have flood insurance, and that our community is looking at several months of cleanup and repair work.

With all of us working together we can help each other through this disaster. As we assist with repair and rebuilding work, here are some ways you can help:

• Pray! Pray for all of the families who experienced damage or lost property.
• Give! Make a financial contribution to the Relief Work by sending your gift to FBCP Disaster Relief Fund (500 North Palafox, Pensacola, 32501). All funds will be used locally to aid those in the Pensacola area.
• Volunteer! Currently you may volunteer at Operation Blessing based on the campus of Brownsville Assembly or Influence Pensacola (in partnership with Florida Baptist Disaster Relief) at the Bristol Creek site. (Influence Pensacola is currently working to establish work sites in Gulf Breeze also.)
• Bring books! In addition to conducting worship services at the County Jail, one of the ministries of our church is to operate the book cart providing wholesome reading material for inmates at the jail. In light of the explosion and relocation of inmates, more books are needed. Please bring paperback books that are General Interest or Fiction. You may place them in the box in front of the library.

Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. With only a few exceptions, the Deluge of 2014 is bringing out the best in folks in Pensacola.  This crisis is affording us a great opportunity to share the love of God in word and in deed.