Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief

10/21/2026

We’re excited to share this article featuring Mike and Kim Mooney, a wonderful couple who serve together and show the love of Christ through their ministry! We’re grateful for their hearts to serve others.

Carlinville | “I encourage everybody not to think they can’t do something, because God equips those who are called,” said Kim Mooney, an Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief (IBDR) chaplain. She and her husband, Mike, have

10/15/2026

ILLINOIS BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF — ALERT UPDATE

Louisiana and Texas Disaster Relief are coordinating the response from Milton, Florida.

Housing is currently limited to 40 volunteers, with teams already scheduled and others waiting to deploy.

The response could last 4–6 weeks, and housing and changing needs will determine how many teams can serve.

We are looking to offer three chainsaw/tarping teams for the following weeks:

Team 1: Week of November 2
Team 2: Week of November 9
Team 3: Week of November 16

Blue Hats: Please let me know as soon as possible if you are available to lead a team during one of these weeks and how many people you would anticipate having.

Availability does not guarantee deployment, as assignments will depend on housing and response needs.

Thank you for your willingness to serve!

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

Mike Young
Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief

10/12/2026

ALERT

Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief is currently on alert in response to Hurricane Isaias.

We expect to have more information later this week, but current indications are that chainsaw teams will be needed, including teams equipped to tarp damaged roofs.

If deployed, we would serve in Milton, Florida, in cooperation with Missouri Disaster Relief. Louisiana Disaster Relief will be establishing Incident Command.

Deployment timing is still uncertain. We could receive a request as early as this weekend, or deployment may be delayed as we provide support and relief for teams serving during the initial response.

Chainsaw team members: Please feel free to contact me with any questions. For now, please remain alert and watch for further updates as plans develop.

Thank you for your willingness to serve!

Mike Young

10/05/2026

10/03/2026

UNTIL THE CALL COMES

Over the past few days, we’ve shared a glimpse of what happened at Disaster Relief training at Lake Sallateeska.

But the pictures only tell part of the story.

93 people showed up. They learned. They trained. They practiced. They served alongside one another.

And now they are back home better prepared for the day when the call comes.

Disaster Relief isn’t about knowing exactly when or where the next disaster will happen.

It’s about being ready when it does.

Ready to load a trailer.
Ready to grab a chainsaw.
Ready to prepare a meal.
Ready to clean out a flooded home.
Ready to listen to someone who is hurting.
Ready to serve.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time, shared their expertise, and came ready to learn.

The weekend may be over, but the mission continues.

We’re ready when the call comes.

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

10/01/2026

TRAINING TAKES LEADERS

Behind every trained Disaster Relief volunteer are people who are willing to teach, demonstrate, answer questions, and share what they’ve learned through experience.

These are just SOME of the leaders who helped make our Disaster Relief training at Lake Sallateeska possible.

I didn’t get pictures of everyone, but each instructor played an important role in preparing volunteers to serve when the call comes.

From chainsaws and mud-out to feeding, shower units, chaplaincy, child care, communications and much more, these leaders are helping equip others to bring practical help to people in some of their hardest moments.

We’re grateful for those who lead, teach, and invest in the next generation of Disaster Relief volunteers.

Because when the need comes, we want to be ready to serve.

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

09/30/2026

There’s more to Disaster Relief than chainsaws.

When disaster strikes, it takes all kinds of people with all kinds of skills to bring help to those who need it.

Some serve with chainsaws.
Some feed hungry people.
Some provide showers and laundry.
Some help clean out flooded homes.
Some serve as chaplains.
Some organize, drive, cook, repair, encourage, and simply show up.

God has given each of us something we can use to serve others.

That’s one of the things we love about Disaster Relief.

Different gifts.
Different skills.
Different backgrounds.

One team. One mission.

And when we work together, we can make a difference in some very difficult moments.

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

09/28/2026

This isn’t just a classroom.

Disaster Relief training is hands-on.

Over the weekend at Lake Sallateeska, volunteers learned the skills they’ll need when the call comes:

How to safely serve in disaster zones.
How to use specialized equipment.
How to help homeowners begin putting their lives back together.
How to work together as a team.

And how to bring the hope of Christ into difficult circumstances.

Because when a disaster happens, we want to be ready.

Ready to go.
Ready to work.
Ready to serve.

Training today. Serving tomorrow.

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

09/26/2026

93 people showed up.

Not because they had to.

Because they were willing to say YES to serving others in their time of need.

Friday and Saturday at Lake Sallateeska, 93 people gathered for Illinois Baptist Disaster Relief training—learning skills, building relationships, and preparing to respond when disaster strikes.

Some were learning something completely new.
Others were sharpening skills they’ve used before.

But everyone came for the same reason:

To be ready to serve when they’re needed.

This is what Disaster Relief looks like.

93 people. One mission.

We provide help, healing, and hope as we serve.

And this is just the beginning. More pictures and stories from the weekend are coming!

09/21/2026

WHAT IF YOU WERE READY BEFORE THE CALL CAME?

When disaster strikes, there’s no time to start figuring things out.

Our Disaster Relief volunteers train before they deploy—so when the call comes, they’re ready to bring hope, help, and healing to people who have just experienced some of their hardest days.

You don’t have to be a chainsaw expert.
You don’t have to be a construction professional.
You just need a willingness to serve.

There are different ways to be part of Disaster Relief, and training is where it starts.

Check out the upcoming training this Saturday and find out how you can get involved.

BE READY. BE TRAINED. BE THERE WHEN IT MATTERS.