This time, the ministry opportunities were different. The fires had created an urgent humanitarian crisis, and Neal brought both the expertise of disaster relief and the encouragement of the broader Southern Baptist family. His purpose was clear: to engage Portuguese churches in disaster response, helping them envision new ways of supporting fire-affected families and inspiring coordinated outreach across their communities.



For Portuguese churches, this was both a challenge and an opportunity. As Portuguese Pastor Joāo Silva shared, “Our churches deeply desire to reach their communities with the gospel, but disaster relief requires resources they don’t normally have. Responding to disasters would require identifying and obtaining needed resources.”

Morehart realized this was a great opportunity for SBC organizations to partner in support of the local churches. “When organizations like Send Relief or Southern Baptist Disaster Relief come alongside, they bring years of experience and access to resources that open doors previously shut. Something as simple as providing N95 masks during wildfire season, or equipping congregations with relief packs, allows the local church to minister in very specific ways—and those moments often create opportunities for gospel witness.” 

The strength of the partnership lay in its posture. Rather than imposing methods, international partners came ready to listen. “Healthy partnership means working toward a shared goal, where local congregations are full participants and ultimately receive the credit,” Morehart continued, “The Portuguese pastors were deeply honored that Kendrick came not to tell them what to do, but to learn from their context and simply support the work they were already doing. That humility was both honoring and inspiring.”

Together, Neal, Morehart, and local pastors gathered for times of prayer, planning, and encouragement. They brainstormed creative ways to respond not only in the crisis but also in building long-term credibility and presence in their communities. “When cooperation is done well, it’s not either/or,” Morehart reflected. “It allows us to respond in the moment of crisis, and it strengthens the local church for lasting gospel presence.”



Each group’s strengths complemented the others: Neal, backed by his California church and disaster relief expertise, brought practical training and credibility; Morehart offered cultural orientation and long-term connections with host congregations; Send Relief provided logistical support, resources, and the ability to coordinate across networks.

But Morehart is quick to point out that this partnership isn’t just about what international organizations bring. It’s also about what they learn. “In Portugal, believers are a small minority, and yet they show remarkable endurance and steadfast faith. Coming from the Bible Belt, I’ve learned so much about perseverance from my Portuguese brothers and sisters. We are stronger together when we share these lessons with one another.”

That spirit of mutual strengthening mirrors the broader cooperative vision of the Southern Baptist family. Just as no single church could send a missionary family alone, but together more than 3,000 IMB units now serve around the world, so too can small rural churches in Portugal accomplish more when linked to a wider network. “The very fact that my family is here is evidence of what cooperation can do,” Morehart said. “I am hopeful disaster relief will become another opportunity for Portuguese churches to work together and for the gospel to advance.”

This episode in Portugal now stands as a model of what can happen when the IMB, Send Relief, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, and local churches align. When crisis strikes, partnerships like this fuel both immediate action and long-term transformation, ensuring that relief is not only effective but deeply rooted in relationship and respect for local context. And in every act of service—whether handing out supplies, praying with families, or training believers—the love of Christ is made tangible, offering hope today and planting seeds for tomorrow.

To support California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief in its ongoing mission

to bring help, hope, and healing in Jesus’ name, please visit csbdr.org/give.

Thank you!