Since our CBGC Annual Meeting last October, Colorado Baptist Disaster Relief (CBDR) has been keeping busy with deployments in state and out of state along with trainings and upkeep of our vehicles and equipment.

Hurricane IAN- Florida Deployment in November, 2022.  CBDR sent a team of 15 volunteers to the Daytona Beach, FL area to assist with mud-out and cleanup efforts from the hurricane. We were able to complete 8 major clean up jobs. The team was able to present Bibles to each of the homeowner along with opportunities to share Christ with them. Due to an outbreak of Covid, we did not deploy our second team.

“PETE” (National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education). This is one of our new CBDR partners that supports our ministry. In January I led 3 conferences and hands-on sessions of CBDR Mud-Out procedures along with OSHA Safety. Most of the participants are from colleges around the country. This year I was able to invite 3 of our CBDR leaders to attend the week long trainings offered. In April I led week long safety training with “PETE” in Puerto Rico.

My wife and I attended the National SBDR Round Table in Jacksonville, FL on January 24 -27. This is where all our SBDR National and State Disaster Relief Directors come together to plan and conduct needed business. Many things are changing these days and we need to keep abreast of these changes.

NORAD- Peterson Air Force Base – I was invited to speak about CBDR to over 75 military chaplains and officers from around the country during their Religious Affairs Workshop.

CEMA Conference (Colorado Emergency Management Association) is an annual meeting that I attend to represent CBDR. This group is made up of all the Emergency Managers in the state of Colorado. Each year I set up a display representing what CBDR is about and get opportunities to speak with the Emergency Managers and other State Officials.

CSEPP (Chemical Spill Emergency Preparedness Program – we were invited by the Pueblo Sheriff’s Office to participate in this event where our CBDR Feeding team prepared and served 100 meals to the participants.

CBDR Annual Leadership Retreat was hosted by Applewood Baptist Church, Wheat Ridge.

CBDR Training hosted by Bookcliff Baptist Church, Grand Junction

CBDR Training hosted by Steel City Fellowship, Pueblo

Chainsaw Training in Fairplay followed by doing and hands-on fire mitigation job

First Aid/Stop the Bleed training with the American Heart Association – hosted by Community of Grace

Participated with Adams County Community Safety Fair “Touch –A Tuck” to share about CBDR

Maui Fire – we are on STAND BY for ash-out and cleanup deployment

Visit our NEW CBDR WEBSITE!  www.ColoradoDR.org has been redone to make it easier for training event registration, keep you informed with news immediately from the disaster deployments with many other updated information and pictures of this great ministry.

New CBDR Shower Unit has arrived and in service for deployments.

Highlands Ranch Tornado – On June 22nd an EF-1 tornado ripped through the area of Highlands Ranch in Jefferson County.  We immediately began to get a team together to deploy to the location to begin cleanup efforts. Due to all the heavy rains we had been receiving on the Front Range, flooding was one issue that made our deployment difficult as the location that stores most of our CBDR Vehicles is located at Creekside Community Church in Elizabeth, CO.  The main road and driveway to the church was completely washed out!  Once permission was given by the neighbor to allow us to drive through his field to get our needed units, the team could finally begin deployment.

Our Goals for 2024

  • Find an enclosed building/Pole Barn or location to park our CBDR Vehicles near the I-25 corridor near Boulder or Longmnont.
  • Have 4 regional areas to host CBDR Trainings
  • Conduct training for our WYDR Partnership Volunteers

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of CBDR!

Serving Together,
Dennis Belz
CBDR State Director