Disaster Relief Team

At Ward Church, audacious generosity isn’t just a value—it’s a way of life. Every week, individuals quietly and faithfully serve others in powerful ways. Some lead children in their faith journey, others lift up every prayer request in quiet intercession. Volunteers visit the sick, care for the homebound, and walk alongside those facing grief, addiction, or financial hardship. These acts of love—both seen and unseen—are rooted in the hope of Jesus and leave a lasting impact for generations.

Among these servant-hearted individuals is a group that quite literally goes the extra mile. The Ward Disaster Relief Team travels across the country to help communities devastated by natural disasters. Working hand-in-hand with Samaritan’s Purse, they bring practical help, compassion, and hope to people in crisis.

When disaster strikes, the Ward Disaster Relief Team answers the call—bringing hope and help to communities locally and across the country. In partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, our volunteers deploy to areas hit hardest by natural disasters, offering hands-on assistance and the love of Christ. Whether it’s tarping damaged roofs, removing fallen trees, or clearing debris, their work meets urgent physical needs while also reminding people they are not alone.

Rick Bernard, a longtime leader of the Disaster Relief Team, shared one such story from their deployments:

“One of my most heart-wrenching experiences happened just after we had finished an assessment.  It was a real “God-thing” in that, as we left, we began to head in the wrong direction. Before we could get turned around, a lady driving by in the opposite direction saw the “Samaritan’s Purse” wording on the side of our truck. She was frantically waving at us to stop and was literally sobbing to the point we could barely understand her asking us if we could help her. We turned around and followed her to her home, just a couple blocks away.  She was one of those people who actually had me in tears. (Thank goodness for dark-colored sunglasses!)  She had just moved into her home several months earlier, evacuated during the storm and had returned just a couple days earlier to find a large tree had crushed her carport and a bedroom at the end of her beautiful double-wide mobile home. Everything in her home was soaked and ruined – and now, they’re facing heavy rains from another tropical storm. Our Chaplain, Christi, was able to calm her and pray with her. This woman was so grateful and told us that it is obvious that God led her to us through our wrong turn!”

Stories like this happen frequently in the field, Rick explains.

If you are interested in being involved in upcoming Disaster Relief efforts, please contact outreach@ward.church.

Upcoming Disaster Relief Trips:

We currently have a team aiding in relief in Texas from the flooding.

Next trip TBD.

If you’re interested in joining or would like more information, please reach out to Naomi at naomi.mitchell@ward.church.

Local Disaster Relief Support Needed?

If you have downed trees, broken limbs, or general debris in your yard caused by the recent storms, our Disaster Relief Team Volunteers are here to help. We specialize in this type of work nationwide, and we can cut up trees, remove limbs, and move debris to the street for city pickup. To get assistance, contact Rick Bernard by filling out the form below. Rick will coordinate to meet with you at your home to:

1. Assess the damage and determine if it falls within the Disaster Relief Team’s scope of work.
2. Identify the tools and equipment needed.
3. Estimate the number of volunteers required.

Once the assessment is complete, Rick will gather volunteers from our Ward Disaster Relief list and coordinate with you to start the cleanup.

If you have any questions about the Disaster Relief Team or are interested in joining the team, CLICK HERE to fill out the opportunity response.