News From Unit 11

First Missionary Baptist Church of Redlands
Disaster Response Ministry Report
June 2009



Ministry is the act of serving. Serving those whose lives have been disrupted is the very act that Jesus commended in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Jesus ministered to people He met each day. The miracles He performed were answers to the needs of those with whom He came in contact.



I want to take this time to thank all of you for your continued support. To date, we have completed two CPR/First Aid/AED classes; certifying over 40 students. Several have completed the on-line NIMS training and we have also completed our first CERT training course graduating 17 students. A special thanks to Dave Denman and Rich Sessler from the City of Redlands Fire Department for helping out with our training.    

More on CERT
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. So get prepared, and get involved! The next set of classes will be in August or September 2009. 

We are in the process of putting together a press release regarding the recent CERT training. This press release will cover the aspects of the CERT training and the functions of the Disaster Response Ministry. We are also in the process of putting together a brochure that can be distributed at Market Night in order to provide the community with more information on this ministry.  

Reminder:
Just a reminder that the NIMS (IS-100a and IS-700a) training is available on-line. Both classes will fulfill the team member training requirements for NIMS. This means if you take the on-line classes, you do not need to do the classroom instruction. Go to the web address: http://training.fema.gov/IS/ and simply follow the directions.

One of the greatest testimonies for the cause of Christ are Christians living and helping in their local communities; sharing their faith day-in and day-out under the power of the Holy Spirit.

Brother Tony Farrar
Unit Chief