Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief Trained volunteers serving in natural disasters with chainsaws, flood/mud out, shower & feeding units, childcare, and chaplains.

BETTER TOGETHERFor nearly a month, a team from Texas served homeowners in Will and Cook Counties, helping them recover f...
09/09/2026

BETTER TOGETHER

For nearly a month, a team from Texas served homeowners in Will and Cook Counties, helping them recover from the devastating effects of the storms.

During September, an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team had the privilege of coming alongside them by providing meals for the Texas chainsaw team while they worked.

It may not have involved chainsaws or clearing storm-damaged trees, but it was an important part of the mission.

Because Disaster Relief takes more than one team.

It takes people willing to go.
It takes people willing to serve.
It takes people willing to cook.
It takes people willing to clean.
It takes people willing to do whatever is needed.

The Texas team served homeowners.

The Illinois feeding team served the servants.

Different teams. Different jobs. One mission.

And that’s why we are BETTER TOGETHER.

BETTER TOGETHERWhen Illinois needed help, Texas answered.Following severe storms in Will and Cook Counties, the need for...
09/08/2026

BETTER TOGETHER

When Illinois needed help, Texas answered.

Following severe storms in Will and Cook Counties, the need for chainsaw teams was greater than we could meet on our own.

That’s where Texans on Mission came alongside Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief.

For nearly a month, their team worked throughout the area, helping homeowners deal with trees and storm damage that had turned their yards — and in some cases their homes — upside down.

More than 250 homes were served.

But the number is only part of the story.

The real story is people from different states, churches and communities coming together to help people they had never met.

And while homes and yards were being restored, God was doing something even greater.

Seven people placed their faith in Jesus Christ during the response.

That’s what makes Disaster Relief different.

We don’t just show up to clean up damage. We show up with the hope of the Gospel.

Thank you to our friends from Texans on Mission for answering the call and serving alongside us.

250+ homes served.
7 lives changed for eternity.

We really are BETTER TOGETHER.

Last week, 44 Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers served in Canton, Illinois, helping families recover from deva...
09/02/2026

Last week, 44 Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers served in Canton, Illinois, helping families recover from devastating flooding.

But behind every number is a person.

A flooded home that needed to be cleaned out.
A family that needed someone to help.
A conversation that opened the door to the hope of Jesus.

We came to help meet practical needs, but we know our greatest mission is to point people to Jesus.

And God gave us the opportunity to see that mission lived out in a powerful way.

Four people gave their lives to Christ.

That’s why we go.

We don’t just want to clean up houses. We want to show the love of Christ to people who are hurting.

Thank you to every volunteer who gave their time, every church that sent someone, and everyone who prayed and gave to make this ministry possible.

The numbers tell part of the story.
The people tell the real story.

What’s with the yellow shirts?If you’ve ever seen a Disaster Relief team at work, you’ve probably noticed one thing pret...
08/31/2026

What’s with the yellow shirts?

If you’ve ever seen a Disaster Relief team at work, you’ve probably noticed one thing pretty quickly:

We wear a LOT of yellow.

But have you ever wondered why?

The yellow shirt helps identify us as trained Disaster Relief volunteers. When we arrive in a community after a disaster, homeowners, emergency personnel and others know who we are and why we’re there.

But for us, it represents much more than that.

It represents training.
It represents teamwork.
It represents a willingness to leave home and go where we’re needed.

And most importantly, it represents an opportunity to serve people who are hurting.

When we walk into a home after a flood, tornado, hurricane or other disaster, we’re not just there to remove damaged materials, clean up debris or make repairs.

We’re there because people matter.

And because we believe the love of Christ should be more than something we talk about—it should be something we demonstrate.

The yellow shirt identifies us as Disaster Relief volunteers.

Our actions should identify us as followers of Jesus.

So when you see someone in a yellow shirt, you may just see a volunteer.

We see an opportunity.

An opportunity to serve.
An opportunity to encourage.
An opportunity to show the love of Christ.

That’s what’s with the yellow shirts.

What does flood recovery work look like?It can include a lot of different things, but here is one example from a home ou...
08/27/2026

What does flood recovery work look like?

It can include a lot of different things, but here is one example from a home our team recently completed.

At first glance, these pictures may not look like a home that experienced significant flood damage. But this basement had about 30 inches of water inside.

Our Disaster Relief team removed the contents of the basement, flooring, four feet of drywall and the insulation behind it. Once those materials were removed, the exposed areas were treated to help prevent mold and further damage.

When the job was finished, this family had one more step behind them and is one step closer to getting their home back.

But flood recovery is about more than removing damaged walls and flooring.

Every home we enter gives us an opportunity to serve people who are hurting, to listen to their stories, to encourage them, and to remind them that they are not alone.

We may be removing damaged materials from a home, but our greater purpose is to show the love of Christ to the people inside it.

The physical work may eventually be finished, but we pray that the spiritual impact lasts much longer.

Have you ever wondered where you would sleep or shower if you joined a Disaster Relief team?When our teams deploy to a c...
08/27/2026

Have you ever wondered where you would sleep or shower if you joined a Disaster Relief team?

When our teams deploy to a community, we typically stay in a local church. We sleep wherever there is space—classrooms, fellowship halls, youth rooms, or just about anywhere we can set up a cot!

And when it comes to showers, we bring them with us.

This particular shower trailer provided 6 individual shower stalls, along with two washer and dryer units.

It may not be a hotel, but there’s something special about staying in a church, sharing meals, and serving alongside people who are there for one reason—to serve others and share the love of Jesus.

This is Disaster Relief.

Could God be calling you to join us?

Today, more than 40 volunteers have been serving in homes throughout the Canton, Il area. After a long day of hard work,...
08/25/2026

Today, more than 40 volunteers have been serving in homes throughout the Canton, Il area. After a long day of hard work, they gathered for dinner—tired but grateful for the opportunity to serve.

Please pray not only for the work, but for the conversations. Pray that God would open doors with homeowners who are hurting, and that our volunteers would have opportunities to share the hope and love of Christ.

The work matters.
The conversations matter even more.

Join in praying for chainsaw teams working in Pesotum and Sadorus Illinois today. This group of 13 will be headed to Can...
08/24/2026

Join in praying for chainsaw teams working in Pesotum and Sadorus Illinois today. This group of 13 will be headed to Canton Illinois this evening where they will transition to flood recovery work for the rest of the week.

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has been placed on “GO” status beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, for Canton, IL, follo...
08/20/2026

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief has been placed on “GO” status beginning Monday, August 24, 2026, for Canton, IL, following contact with Fulton County officials including the EMA Director.

The need is for flood recovery.

Here are the details:

- Deployment will begin August 24 with our first meal being served for dinner that evening.
- Housing, feeding, showers, and laundry have been secured at Temple Baptist Church in Canton, IL 61520 (Pastor Will Ferguson).
Current badges are required. If your badge is not current, please call Janet Sheley at (217) 391-3126.
- Some assessments have been done, and our plans are to have more done prior to Monday so that we will have work orders ready.

Please contact me at 618-954-4540 if you can serve. If you are unsure of how you can help, reach out as well.

For the area SOUTH OF CHAMPAIGN, the need for chainsaw crews is now limited as the community has taken care of many of the needs. A small group of our more local DR workers are coordinating a one-day response for next week. Unless you are part of the one-day response team, this is NO GO for the rest of the state.

The need is flood recovery in the Canton/Cuba.

Thank you for all you do in serving as we offer hope, help, and healing.

- Mike Young, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief State Director

RESCHEDULED: Due to recent storms in northern and central Illinois causing wind damage and flooding, we've placed teams ...
08/18/2026

RESCHEDULED: Due to recent storms in northern and central Illinois causing wind damage and flooding, we've placed teams on standby and are expecting callouts. As a result, our training event scheduled for August 28-29 at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp has been rescheduled to September 25-26. It will still be held at Lake Sallateeska Baptist Camp. Register now at https://www.ibsa.org/events/disaster-relief-training-lake-sallateeska/
- Mike Young, Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief State Director

Address

3085 Stevenson Drive
Springfield, IL
62703

Telephone

+12173913126

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