Responding to Hurricane Melissa
Our sisters and brothers across the Caribbean are facing immense hardship after Hurricane Melissa – a powerful Category 5 storm with winds up to 185 mph. Homes, hospitals, churches, and schools lie in ruins, and widespread power outages and communication loss have left communities isolated and vulnerable. In this moment of urgent need, the BWA calls our global family to unite in prayer and action, standing together in faith and compassion. As we trust in God’s sustaining care, we invite you to lift up our Caribbean family and give as generously as you are able, sharing the love of Christ at this critical time.
Stand with the Caribbean Sunday
On a Sunday that works best for your church, we invite you to unite with Baptists around the world in prayer and support for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa. As the BWA mobilizes aid across the Caribbean, your congregation can play a vital role through prayer, giving, and raising awareness. We encourage you to take up a special offering to help meet the critical needs now and to support long-term recovery.
Let’s stand together as one global family in Christ. Click below to access the prayer guide, and join the response today.
How Are We Responding?
The Global Baptist family is responding in a number of ways. BWAid Director convened a coordination call for the supporting partners of the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development (BFAD) and the convention leaders whose communities have been affected by the hurricane. This was a time of prayer, and supporting partners pledged their support as they agreed to “Respond Together.” Fifty thousand USD was sent to Jamaica Baptist Union (JBU) to assist with the immediate needs – including food, hygiene items, and shelter supplies.
BFAD member, Texas on Mission (pictured below), sent two people to do an initial assessment of the needs immediately following the hurricane, BWAid Director Marsha Scipio (pictured below) traveled to Jamaica to walk alongside the JBU responding team and to provide capacity support. BFAD will facilitate the hiring of a program manager to lead the Union’s Response efforts. BFAD member Canadian Baptist Ministries will lead the efforts to support our Cuban sisters and brothers, which includes funding for immediate needs.
Devastation in Jamaica
With more than 40% of churches damaged or destroyed in Jamaica and countless homes uninhabitable, the needs are vast with the challenges exacerbated by the ongoing and unrelenting rain. Funds are needed to support the distribution of clean water, especially in rural communities, and support will be needed for months to come as our Jamaican brothers and sisters begin the rebuilding process in their communities.
As part of the BWA’s Stand with the Caribbean Sunday initiative, we have created a focused prayer guide for churches, small groups, and individuals to help our Baptist family unite in intercession for those impacted by Hurricane Melissa. As a family committed to be one in prayer, we stand together in faith, compassion, and solidarity with our sisters and brothers across the Caribbean. Join us in prayer!
BWA Chair Karl Johnson shares a prayer and message of encouragement for those in his home country of Jamaica and the many across the Caribbean in the path of Hurricane Melissa.
Praying for Cuba
The situation in Cuba remains extremely challenging following the impact of Hurricane Melissa, compounded by prolonged electricity outages, fuel shortages, and limited access to food and medical supplies.
Despite these difficulties, local churches and provincial coordinators, together with Canadian Baptist Ministries and the Fellowship of Baptist Churches of Cuba, have continued delivering emergency food assistance, hygiene kits, mattresses, kitchen utensils, bedding, roofing materials, psychosocial support, and agricultural recovery assistance to vulnerable families.
Through this support, emergency relief and recovery aid have been distributed across the provinces of Las Tunas, Holguín, Granma, and Santiago de Cuba, helping families restore dignity and hope.
To date, the project has supported 3,650 individuals, including 41% women and girls, bringing relief, encouragement, and recovery opportunities to affected communities. Prayer is especially needed for the people of Cuba, for strength and provision for local churches serving without stable electricity, and for access to food, medicine, transportation, and renewed hope amid the ongoing crisis.
Prayer is especially needed for the people of Cuba, for strength and provision for local churches serving without stable electricity, and for access to food, medicine, transportation, and continued hope in the midst of the ongoing crisis.
Responding to Hurricane Melissa
Giving Online
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Giving By Check
Address checks to the Baptist World Alliance and mail to our office located at:
405 N. Washington Street
Falls Church, Virginia, 22046 USA
Giving via Wire Transfer
For those wishing to give via wire transfer, email the BWA Finance Department to receive specific instructions.
The Baptist World Alliance is recognized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization within the United States.
For income tax reporting purposes, donors will receive a receipt for their gift.
Designated Gift Policy: If a ministry project is overfunded, our policy is to apply the unused portion to a similar need.
Updates from Those on the Ground
Patrenia Pencil from Elderslie Baptist Church shares a testimony about how they have been impacted by Hurricane Melissa and how your support can help them respond to the needs in their community.
Jamaica Baptist Union shares aerial footage of the damage and destuction caused across the country by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.
BWAid Director Marsha Scipio provides an update amidst the rubble of Springfield Baptist Church in Jamaica.