Jon Jamison, SERVE Team

SERVE TEAM

Jon Jamison, Team Leader

Is not this the fast that I choose . . . Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

From the earliest of days, God has continually displayed His love and care for the vulnerable while calling His church to do the same. To demonstrate the love of Jesus, the SERVE Team exists to help churches see their communities clearly and offer support as they launch successful ministries within those neighborhoods.

Advance Stories

• As a Disaster Relief mud-out unit served in Kentucky during the spring, the unit leader reported, “Much of our physical labor was clearing crawl spaces and basements of waterlogged items and insulation. Our more challenging labor was consoling the people who saw no light at the end of the tunnel.” As a result of their efforts—physical and spiritual— people were encouraged, Gospel seeds were planted, and a resident named Virginia accepted Christ as Savior. • The Columbia Metro Baptist Association, Columbia First, Shandon, and Spring Valley have collaborated with Heart4Schools and the SEND Team to minister to more than 200 international teachers in the Columbia area. A Christmas dinner ministered to 46 international teachers from 18 schools representing 12 countries. Quarterly events will continue in the fall to encourage friendships and connections with church members. Seventeen Columbia churches have provided more than 130 welcome baskets for international teachers as they arrive. Baskets include household items and information on how to connect with ethnic ministries and area Baptist churches.

Advance Highlights

• The Disaster Relief (DR) office mobilized volunteers and units to respond to: o Hurricanes Laura, Delta, and Sally in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. o Flooding in Kentucky and Arkansas. o Fire recovery in Colorado. o Childcare at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Nashville. o Various local storm damage in South Carolina throughout the year. • We equipped 474 volunteers in four associational trainings, an upstate regional training, a chaplain training, one leadership development event for DR Unit Leaders, and two specialized trainings for Incident Management volunteers. • The SERVE Team developed a relationship with the South Carolina Department of Social Services which led to a series of videos that share how churches can begin or support Foster Care Ministry.