A South Carolina Baptist Disaster Relief (SCDR) chainsaw team of 11 men from Kershaw Baptist Association responded to a call for volunteers to serve in Mississippi.

Winter storms rolled through the Southeast, leaving widespread damage and power outages in its wake. Although the team was there to clear trees, they offered homeowners in need much more. 

Unit Leader Eddie Morris has been involved with SCDR for seven years and was first encouraged to join the ministry after his wife took part in a deployment. “I was looking for something to do to expand the Kingdom when I retired, and I fell in love with the work,” Morris said. The team was also joined by David Keisler, who has nearly 26 years of experience serving with SCDR. For Keisler, his service with Disaster Relief has been defined by the camaraderie and fellowship that happens when people from different backgrounds join for a singular purpose. 

Meeting Needs

Mississippi homeowner Gary Berry shared that the chainsaw team got to his home at just the right time. An 81-year-old retired Baptist pastor, both Berry and his wife were experiencing health struggles. On top of the damage left by the storm, they had also learned their son was experiencing a health crisis as well. “On the morning these men showed up, the battery in our car was dead, and we had no way to get to town,” Berry said. “I was physically exhausted from the simple act of raising the car hood.” 

Not only did the team clear the debris in Berry’s yard, but they also fixed his car and spent time praying for him and his son. When asked why the chainsaw team decided to fix Berry’s car as well, Keisler responded, “We’re not there for the chainsaws; we’re there for the people.” He emphasized that anyone can be trained to use a chainsaw, but he wants people on his team that will go out of their way to care for people.  

Berry certainly felt the team went above and beyond to care for him. “They were like God-sent angels,” he said, “clearly sent by God at just the right time.” Keisler emphasized that the Lord’s plan is always bigger than the immediate job in front of them. “The downed tree is our bridge to these people, but the outcome is always about the people,” he said.

Following God’s Call

Over the course of the week, the team completed over 20 jobs in Mississippi. “God sent us there, and he had a plan,” Morris said. “When we go, we know it’s not about us. Jesus can put you right where he needs you, right when it’s needed.” In addition to clearing trees, they were able to help homeowners, encourage believers, and bring hope to those they met along the way. 

Both Morris and Keisler would encourage anyone interested in serving with Disaster Relief to take a step in faith. “If it’s not your thing, we’ll help you find another ministry,” Keisler said. “But if you go, God will provide.”