God bless you and keep you from harm, this night/shift and forever
>related to the iowa church shooting dig
>NAMB (North American Mission Board) - parent company (?) of Send Network
Trump meets with SBC’s Ezell, other disaster relief leaders
By Mike Ebert
WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump met with leaders of the three largest disaster relief organizations in the United States at the White House Friday to discuss relief efforts in South Texas in the wake of historic flooding and other damage left by the remnants of Hurricane Harvey.
Included at the meeting were Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR), represented by North American Mission Board (NAMB) president Kevin Ezell, American Red Cross, represented by the group’s president, Gail McGovern, and the Salvation Army, represented by Col. David Hudson, the group’s USA National Chief Secretary.
After a 25-minute private meeting in the oval office with the president and first lady, reporters were invited in for an impromptu update about relief efforts in Texas.
“We are pleased to receive an update from Gail, David and Kevin on the work of the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief,” Trump told reporters. “The Federal Government is on the ground bringing its significant resources to bear, and I want to assure these organizations, and the others involved, that we will continue to coordinate with them and bring all of the relief and the comfort and everything else that we absolutely can to the Gulf Coast.”
In his remarks at the briefing, Ezell spotlighted partnerships that make such responses possible.
“”We’re three different organizations but work best as one,” Ezell said, referring to the SBDR partnership with American Red Cross and the Salvation Army. “The joy of this is we really do lock arms and have the capacity to feed over 400,000 people a day.”
Ezell also thanked Trump for the role the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has played during this and other crises.
“We have come through many disasters, and they have done a fantastic job of stepping up to the plate and being prepared and allowing us to volunteer in the way we’re prepared to do.””
After the White House meeting Ezell said he was struck by how personally engaged in the relief effort both Trump and his wife, Melania, are.
“I was grateful to see the compassion they expressed toward those who have been impacted by this,” Ezell said. “It was genuine compassion. You can tell the first lady has really been moved by this.”
The meeting took place as SBDR units are more fully deploying across south Texas. Feeding teams are now preparing thousands of hot meals each day for storm survivors, many of whom are still living in shelters. Other SBDR units are providing hot showers, laundry services and chain saw crews who are removing trees and other debris from rooftops and yards.
In addition to traditional SBDR work, NAMB is coordinating a Send Relief volunteer effort to utilize churches and volunteers who have no prior disaster relief training. Churches and individuals can register at namb.net/Harvey to be part of the effort.
“Our faith compels us to serve those in need. Southern Baptists were invited here today because we have a 50-year record of helping people in times of disaster,” Ezell said after the White House meeting. “When we all work together and cooperate, that’s very powerful. My prayer is that Southern Baptists will continue partnering to meet the great needs in South Texas.”
To donate to Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and Send Relief efforts, visit namb.net/Harvey.
Mike Ebert is executive director of Public Relations for the North American Mission Board.
https://www.namb.net/news/trump-meets-with-sbcs-ezell-other-disaster-relief-leaders/
>Included at the meeting were Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR), represented by North American Mission Board (NAMB) president Kevin Ezell, American Red Cross, represented by the group’s president, Gail McGovern, and the Salvation Army, represented by Col. David Hudson, the group’s USA National Chief Secretary.
Red Cross, Salvation Army, NAMB, SBDR
Published September 2, 2017
> NAMB sex abuse statement
NAMB leaders share plans to identify, prevent incidents of sex abuse
May 25, 2022
By NAMB Board of Trustees Chairman Eric Thomas and President Kevin Ezell
Download Full Statement (PDF)
Dear SBC Family,
We are deeply grieved at the findings of the independent investigation of the SBC Executive Committee commissioned by Guidepost Solutions, and especially at the credible allegation of abuse involving one of our former employees. We must acknowledge, with grief, that we believe the report is well-documented and verified with a high level of professionalism and due process. We are heartbroken, especially for the survivor, her husband and the others mentioned in the report. We are deeply grateful for their courage and sacrifice in speaking up.
We recognize that, with this reality, comes a cascade of facts we must consider, including the possibility of other victims or allegations of which we are unaware, and the need to ensure we have done everything possible to prevent abuse. To that end, we have consulted with outside experts, including Rachael Denhollander, and we are announcing today that the North American Mission Board (NAMB) Board of Trustees is immediately beginning the processes outlined below and on the newly created NAMB Abuse Prevention and Response section of our website.
During times like this, it is easy to be tempted to look the other way, to minimize what has taken place, or to find reasons why the situation we are facing is “different” than other abuse crises. Grievously, as we have seen again just this week, far too often these responses are even cloaked in Scriptural sounding ideas — protecting our mission, our base, our resources.
We want to encourage our SBC community to stand against this temptation. Our God is sovereign and powerful, and He does not need our protection — He requires our obedience. He has commanded us to bring light into darkness, to speak for the oppressed, and to act with justice. We are to grieve at sin and brokenness, to weep with those who weep. Surely this includes survivors of sexual abuse, recognizing the incredible damage that is created when such deep betrayal and violation is experienced.
We understand that the steps we have outlined will require time and resources, and we encourage our SBC community to remember that caring for the vulnerable is not a distraction from our mission — it is an integral part of it.
>2/2
In John 21, Christ asks Peter, “Do you love me?” Three times, Peter replies affirming His love for Christ. And three times Jesus responds, “then feed my sheep.” A love for Christ — true, gospel-centered faith — is demonstrated by feeding Christ’s sheep. By tending, protecting, caring for and nurturing the flock of God.
The goal and vision of NAMB is to serve SBC churches to bring the gospel to North America through supporting and equipping pastors and missionaries in church planting, compassion ministry and evangelism. By very definition, we exist to follow Christ’s call to “feed my sheep.” This means an integral part of our mission is to protect, care for and nurture God’s flock. We cannot do this unless we are doing everything in our power to prevent abuse and care well for survivors. This will require time and resources, but it is not a distraction from our mission, it is a foundational part of it. We recognize that we are on a journey of learning and growth, but we commit today to these action steps, by God’s grace and for His glory, out of love for those who bear His image.
Action Steps
We Commit to:
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Investigate Any Alleged Abuse
Guidepost Solutions is maintaining a sexual abuse tip line through the SBC Executive Committee where allegations of sexual abuse can be made in confidence to their trauma-trained, investigative team. NAMB is requesting that Guidepost Solutions expand the availability of the tip line to include submission of sexual abuse allegations against current or former NAMB staff.
These allegations may be submitted to Guidepost Solutions in the following ways:
By Email: SBChotline@guidepostsolutions.com
By Phone: 202-864-5578
It is critically important to us that survivors have a trusted, safe, and confidential place to report abuse, and truth and transparency are immediately pursued. NAMB will be taking steps to empower Guidepost Solutions to investigate any allegations of abuse which they receive against a current or former employee of NAMB. If allegations of abuse are received and verified against any current or former employee, we will make this public while protecting survivor confidentiality.
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Establish an Abuse Prevention and Response Committee
On May 25, the NAMB Board of Trustees formed an Abuse Prevention and Response Committee comprised of NAMB Trustees, to help us spearhead assessments, training, and reform, guided by trusted outside expertise and counsel.
We will publish a list of members of this committee, and they will be tasked with providing periodic updates on our abuse response and training to our SBC family, through the NAMB Board of Trustees.
This committee will also ensure accountability and monitor progress as actions are implemented.
-
Assess Policies and Procedures
We understand NAMB policies, processes, and structure may need improvement.
Our Abuse Prevention and Response Committee will be considering mechanisms to draw upon outside expertise to help us assess our current structure and policies and provide training and recommendations for strengthening those processes.
As we identify those processes and experts, the Board will publicly report on the steps being taken.
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Provide Staff, Missionary, and Chaplain Training
We understand that NAMB trustees and staff, as well as missionaries and chaplains in the field encounter sexual and domestic abuse in the communities they serve. We understand that as a Convention, and as an entity of the SBC, we have a very long way to go in properly equipping our ministry leaders in abuse prevention and response, as well as survivor care.
Our committee will be consulting with experts in the field, including Rachael Denhollander, to begin the process of properly supporting and resourcing NAMB staff and ministry leaders in the field in abuse prevention and response, as well as faithfully shepherding those who have been wounded. We will share those steps as they are identified and implemented.
-
Support Convention Reforms
We strongly encourage our SBC family to support the implementation of reforms and recommendations like those outlined by the task force.
Serving together,
Eric Thomas
Chairman
NAMB Board of Trustees
Kevin Ezell
President
NAMB
Published May 25, 2022
https://www.namb.net/news/namb-leaders-share-plans-to-identify-prevent-incidents-of-sex-abuse/