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STATE OFFICEDick TalleyState Disaster Relief DirectorRae JonesAdministrative AssistantVOLUNTEER STAFF
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Lightning Facts
There are on average 400 people hit by lightning each year in the USA. Of that number, only 10% die. Of the survivors, 60 to 80% have some lasting, physical damage. The rest walk away.
Most lightning deaths and injuries in the United States occur during the summer months, when the combination of lightning and outdoor activities reaches a peak.
The Fourth of July is historically one of the most deadly times of the year for lightning in the U.S.
The odds of becoming a lightning victim in the U.S. in any one year is 1 in 700,000. The odds of being struck in your lifetime is 1 in 3,000.
Lightning is one of the leading weather-related causes of death and injury in the United States. Most people do not realize that they can be struck by lightning even when the center of a thunderstorm is 10 miles away, and there are blue skies overhead.
The biggest culprit for indoor lightning strikes and injury is people being on a hard wired telephone (cordless doesn't count). And outdoors, standing under a tall tree is one of the most dangerous places to take shelter.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice. In reality, the Empire State Building and the Sears Tower get hit thousands of times a year, as do mountain tops and radio-television antennas.
Lightning detection systems in the United States monitor an average of 25 million strokes of lightning from clouds-to-ground during some 100,000 thunderstorms every year. It is estimated that Earth, as a whole, is struck by an average of more than a hundred lightning bolts every second.
Lightning is not confined to thunderstorms. It's been seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, heavy snowstorms, and in large hurricanes.
Victims of lightning do not retain the charge and are not "electrified." It is safe to help them.
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Cookie Crumbs
1. Disaster Relief Feeding Unit Responds to Hurricane Alex
As Larry Burks reported, thirty-one TBM volunteers, along with 18 wheelers, trucks with trailers and passenger vans traveled to the San Antonio staging area. Although they were never ordered into action, due to a reduced storm surge and rainfall, much had been gained from the experience. The members of the State Disaster Relief team who answered the Hurricane Alex call are to be commended for their willingness to serve.
2. LaGrange Mudout Unit has been called to deploy to Del Rio to assist the First Baptist Church in their ministry to the community. The local subdivision is no longer under water and homeowners need help cleaning their homes.
If you would like to volunteer, please contact Butch Moore at 979-966-3732.
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God Promises
Us Joy
C. S. Lewis titled his autobiography "Surprised by Joy." He believed that joy was a key part of the Christian faith. Both the Old and New Testaments promise us joy...not something temporary, but something that endures through both good and bad times. "This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."Psalm 118: 24
"His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy."Psalm 30: 5, 11
"When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Here there is no conflict with the law."Galatians 5: 22-23
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Financial Support
TBM appreciates your prayers and support of our Disaster Relief ministry. Without your financial support we would not be able to help so many hurting people in their hour of need. You may mail a gift to TBM at 5351 Catron, Dallas, Tx 75227 or give by credit card through our website at: www.texasbaptistmen.org. If you have any questions about a financial gift please call Mickey Lenamon at 214-828-5177. |
Looking Back
August 29, 1979
Five nightmare-inducing hours, on the Caribbean island of Dominica, developed into the worst hurricane of the century. It destroyed everything in its path on this tiny 29 by 14 mile island. Banana, coconut and grapefruit trees were destroyed. Schools, hospitals and clinics were devastated. When Hurricane David finally moved on, 1100 people had died.
When the storm had passed, they were without water, electricity and communications, and food was also scarce.
In less than a week a four-member TBM team arrived in Dominica with a boatload of building materials.
Other teams continued to arrive. In a town of 500, where only 20 homes remained, the TBM teams built a number of 10' by 12' houses. Other support efforts continued throughout the island.
Texas Baptist Men certainly lived up to their motto..."Anyway, Anytime, Anywhere".
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Weather Report
Ole and Lena were sitting down to their usual morning cup of coffee listening to the weather report on the radio. "There will be 3 to 5 inches of snow today, and a snow emergency has been declared," the weather report said. "You must park your cars on the odd numbered side of the streets." Ole said, "Okay," and got up from his coffee. The next day they were sitting down with their morning cups of coffee. The weather forecast was, "There will be 2 to 4 inches of snow today, and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the even numbered side of the streets." Again Ole replied, "Okay," and got up from his coffee. Two days later, again they were sitting down with their cups of coffee and the weather forecast said, "There will be 6 to 8 inches of snow today, and a snow emergency has been declared. You must park your cars on the...", and the power went out and Ole didn't get the rest of the instructions. He turned to Lena, "Golly, what am I going to do now, Lena?" Lena replied, "Aw, Ole, just leave the car in the garage today."
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COOKING FOR BOY SCOUTS AT CAMP SOL MAYER WAS HUGE SUCCESS
As reported by Judy McGuire
Members of the West Central Texas Specialty Feeding Team (San Angelo) traveled to Menard, Texas to prepare meals for the summer camp at Camp Sol Mayer. They arrived on Saturday, June 12, 2010 to get acquainted with the kitchen and get items ready for the first week's menu.
The scouts began arriving at 1:00 pm on Sunday and the first meal served was Sunday night. The meal was donated and all items were warmed up for the dinner. Three meals were prepared each day (Monday-Friday) with the exception of Wednesday evening. That meal, the scouts were to cook "silver turtles" in their campsites, so meat, vegetables, fruit and bread were handed out for each troop.
The Camp Director passing out "White Gun Powder" as he added powdered sugar to french toast, with a "BAM".  |
On Tuesday evening, the Camp Ranger grilled steaks for the Scout Masters and Senior Patrol Leaders for their Appreciation Dinner. The cook staff prepared all other items for this meal.
Friday night was "Family Night" and the scouts and their families were served a spaghetti dinner, garlic toast, green beans and sheet cakes. On Saturday morning, the scouts were to leave the camp by 10:00 am and we passed out individual cereal, milk, juice and cinnamon rolls.
Camp Sol Mayer staff serving  | The first week we prepared meals for 200 and the second week for 160. The menu for the second week changed as we prepared meals with items remaining in stock.
Norvell Holveck getting the steam table ready  |
When the event was finally over, it was considered a big success! The volunteers received a standing ovation, and received many good comments regarding the food.
The Camp Director enjoyed handing out "white
gun powder" (powdered sugar) to the boys when we served French Toast. He would ask the boys if they wanted white gun powder, and if they said
"yes", he threw on the powdered sugar, and hollered "BAM!"
Scooter Scott, Scout
Master from Mertzon, said he had been coming to this camp for many years and the food we served was the best he had ever had. Dennis McGuire finishes up the last of the dishes  |
The team not only cooked the meals but did dishes, set up fruit/cereal bars, salad bar, potato bar at night, changed menus for the second week, and hosted the family night dinners on both Friday nights.
The volunteer members of the West Central
Texas Specialty Feeding Team were Dennis McGuire, Wayne McGuire,
Norvell Holveck and Judy McGuire.
Wayne McGuire begins to prepare the next meal.  | |
Showers Ministry For "World Changers"
As reported by Stan Knight
World Changers is an SBC program for church student's (grades 7 - 12) mission trips. That is, World Changers provides the housing (a church to sleep in), meals, work projects, etc. In the city of Dallas, a list of work projects was provided to WC. It consisted of properties of elderly, low income people in need of repair, painting, light construction, high grass and weeds, etc.
At the Dallas World Changers, groups from several churches attended. I heard of one group from Arkansas consisting of 120+ students and adults, and another with just fourteen. There were a dozen or so work projects on the list.
Kids waiting to use the showers  |
At World Changers this year we had 113 girls & 135 boys.
The Dallas WC historically has around 250 people attending. Due to the size of the group, two shower trailers were provided. This year and last year it was our unit (PCBC), and the unit from FBC O'Donnell. The FBC O'Donnell unit has four shower stalls and they provided showers for boys. Our unit has six stalls and we provided showers for the girls (girls take longer).
During the week our unit provided 515 showers and washed 69 loads of laundry. Most of the laundry was for towels we provide, and a few loads were WC staff's clothes.
Washing machines were kept busy for the entire event.  |
The O'Donnell unit had three people supervising their showers. We (PCBC) had a half-dozen volunteers who worked various times.
As we were packing up to leave, Shawn Edwards (WC director) told me that, among the students who attended, there were 19 first-time professions of faith, nine re-dedications, and six decisions for full-time ministry. In addition, one of the homeowners accepted Christ as Savior. All in all, a very good time for all!
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 A Message From Dick Talley
REPORT FROM HAITI
It was a fast and worthwhile trip. Our first stop was to Petit Goave where we visited a school and Church which has over a hundred students. The school is meeting in tents because the building is unsafe. It needs to be torn down and a new building built. The church has a leaking roof and needs new metal and stringers. This facility could also use a clinic.
Next we went to Grand Goave to a church and school where Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is building new facilities. They could use more help, and more teams. It is well managed.
We went to Port au Prince to Ommies camp where our water unit is, and discovered that we need to make some changes in the unit. We will have to send a team down. Went to a church in a middle class area that is doing a very good job with their facilities, but could use a clinic to increase the number of patients they would be able to see. They are only able to see 10% of those who need care.
On the way to Cap Haitien we traveled on a new road near Gonaives. This combination of a road with proper drainage needs to be duplicated in other areas. The people are so proud that they have cleaned up that entire area.
We then met with the faculty of the university and seminary. We are supplying them with water filters to distribute to the pastors. We are also giving ten computers to the school. They need ten more.
The Father made me aware that I cannot judge Haiti by Port Au Prince. There is a lot of good things happening in Haiti. We can make a difference.
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Lighting Up The Sky
Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity accompanied by a loud noise, which typically occurs during thunderstorms. They can sometimes appear during volcanic eruptions or dust storms. In the atmosphere, a bolt of lightning can travel at speeds of 130,000 mph, and can reach temperatures approaching 54,000 °F, hot enough to fuse silica sand into glass channels known as fulgurites which are normally hollow and can extend some distance into the ground. There are some 16 million lightning storms in the world every year.
Lightning can also occur within the ash clouds from volcanic eruptions, or can be caused by violent forest fires that generate sufficient dust to create a static charge.
Lightning can often be formed by condensed water in clouds freezing into hail, then being blown by wind. The wind smashes the hail together, separating positive and negative charges. When enough negative charges build up, lightning is formed and strikes the tallest object near it.
How lightning initially forms is still a matter of debate: Scientists have studied root causes ranging from atmospheric perturbations (wind, humidity, friction, and atmospheric pressure) to the impact of solar wind and the accumulation of charged solar particles. Ice inside a cloud is thought to be a key element in lightning development, and may cause a forcible separation of positive and negative charges within the cloud, thus assisting in the formation of lightning.
Benjamin Franklin endeavored to test the theory that sparks shared some similarity with lightning by using a spire which was being erected in Philadelphia. While waiting for completion of the spire, he decided to use a flying object such as a kite. During the next thunderstorm, which was in June 1752, it was reported that he raised a kite, accompanied by his son as an assistant. On his end of the string he attached a key, and he tied it to a post with a silk thread. As time passed, Franklin noticed the loose fibers on the string stretching out; he then brought his hand close to the key and a spark jumped the gap.  The rain which had fallen during the storm had soaked the line and made it conductive. Franklin was not the first to perform the kite experiment. Franklin was unaware that two French scientists had performed a similar experiment a few weeks earlier.
The irrational fear of lightning (and thunder) is called astraphobia. The study, or science of lightning, is called fulminology, and someone who studies lightning is referred to as a fulminologist.
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More Help Needed In Chile
The devastation in Chile from the Earthquake, and the tsunami that followed, caused significant damage to many Baptist churches.
Twenty-seven Baptist church sanctuaries suffered major damage, or were completely destroyed. Winter is upon them and the rain has begun. Some of the pastors are still living in tents. Lumber is hard to find, and the steel company that produces 80% of the roofing in Chile was destroyed by the tsunami.
The best way to help, for long-term recovery, is to equip and train the local people to be able to do the work themselves. Texas Baptist Men sent a team to purchase equipment and provide on-the-job training. Nail guns, compressors, circular saws, chop saws and other tools were purchased in Chile. Men from various areas of Chile came and worked for over a week learning to use these tools.
All of the equipment, and the cost of this team to go to Chile, is a work of faith by Texas Baptist Men. The needs are still great and much more needs to be done to help our brothers and sisters in Chile.
If you would like to help financially with this opportunity to be a part of God's activity, as we minister to those in need after the earthquake, you may do so by credit card by going to our webpage, www.texasbaptistmen.org and click on "donations", and then the Donate Now button. The purpose would be Disaster Relief, and in the note section type in "Chile". You may also call 214.828.5351 and make a credit card donation over the phone. Checks may be made out and mailed to Texas Baptist Men, 5351 Catron Dallas, Texas 75227 and earmarked for "Chile".
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