The Cape Girardeau Baptist Association is the new home for an old friend. The former mobile feeding unit for the MO Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry has recently been assigned to the Southeast Missouri region. Cape Girardeau Baptist Association is now part of the MO Baptist Disaster Relief Team. The feeding unit has been refurbished and restocked and is now ready to respond to any disaster. Housed in Cape Girardeau, the Southeast MO Mobile Feeding Unit will be the first to respond to any disaster in the Southeast Missouri Area. Southeast Missouri has been affected by many disasters in the past, the worst being massive flooding, along with tornadoes and fires. However, the possibility of a major earthquake is always lurking over the region. Southern Baptists have prepared over 1,000,000 meals since September 11. Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief is part of a larger disaster relief group, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief. In 2000, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers responded 79 times, with 24,728 volunteers. They prepared 297,864 meals, repaired 1,846 buildings, and cleared 1,611 yards of debris. There are over 100 feeding units, 59 recovery units, 9 mobile communication units, and 14 child care units in service, and more added each year.

Southern Baptists have long worked side by side with the Red Cross to bring relief to those in need. One fact that many people do not realize is that Southern Baptists are the second largest provider of Disaster Relief in the United States, second only to the American Red Cross. Another fact is that Southern Baptist prepare between 65% - 80% of all meals served by the Red Cross. Southern Baptist and the Red Cross have a partnership, which dates back to the 1960's.

The Southeast Missouri Feeding Unit is headed by a team of four local leaders: Director - John Rhodes, Jackson; and Assistant Directors - Eric Hodge, Delta; Pat Krueger, Cape Girardeau; and Doug Austin, Cape Girardeau, USA. Anyone wanting more information about this ministry is encouraged to contact the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association at (573) 334-3511 or John Rhodes at (573) 833-6523 or nbbc@showme.net.

Having units in different areas of the state strengthens the Missouri Baptists and Southern Baptists efforts to minister to those in need through Christian cooperation. The Southeast Missouri Team wishes to thank Gary Morrow (State Director) and his state staff for all their help and support in establishing this new state feeding unit.

The Southeast Unit is under the direction of John Rhodes. John is the unit blue cap and in charge of maintenance, communication, and command. John is Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church, Jackson, MO. Eric Hodge is director over the sterilization area. Eric has also been to New York City to serve in that disaster. Eric is pastor of First Baptist Church in Delta, MO. Pat Kruger is our head cook. Pat oversees the kitchen area along with the storage and staging areas. Pat has also been to New York City to work in that disaster. Pat is a part-time secretary for the Cape Girardeau Baptist Association and is an active member at Bethany Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau, MO. Doug Austin has the responsibility of overseeing security for the unit. Doug is retired and is a deacon at Lynwood Baptist Church, Cape Girardeau, MO. Doug is also involved in many community activities and is a speaker for the Gideons International.

A new 20' DooLittle Cargo trailer has arrived and is now ready for use in Southeast MO Disaster Relief. The trailer has been fitted with custom shelving to fit the needs of the Southeast MO Unit. The outside of the trailer has also been lettered and is ready for action. West Sign Co. in Cape Girardeau was very