Ministry in the Midst of Disaster

Amid the devastation, International Mission Board (IMB) personnel in Portugal are working with California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (CSBDR) to explore ways churches can respond. Together, they are discussing both immediate ministry opportunities and longer-term plans to train local congregations in disaster preparedness and crisis care.

“Looking ahead, we want to see churches equipped not just to meet physical needs, but to be a source of hope and stability when disasters strike,” said Tyler Morehart, IMB personnel serving in Portugal. “With some training and structure, local churches could play a much larger role in their communities.”

Morehart noted that one of the first challenges lies in cultural expectations. “Here in Portugal, it is expected that the government will take care of everything in the community,” he explained. “From trash cans that have spilled all over the road, to landscaping in neighborhoods, all the way to major disaster responses like the wildfires—it all falls to the government. So, individuals or local organizations, including churches, are not necessarily equipped to address issues on their own and need to be creative in identifying ways to help. People want to help, and many donate food or water to firefighters, but beyond that, very few are engaging further.”

Still, Morehart sees opportunity. While churches in Portugal are often small and limited in resources, he believes they are uniquely placed to respond in times of crisis. “No one knows the community better than those who live among them,” he said. “Local believers want to help, and they already do what they can—bringing food and water, for example. But with some training and structure, churches could step into crisis situations alongside their local governments and play a much larger role. Even if they lack physical or financial resources, they carry the most important gift anyone can bring to someone in disaster: hope.”

Building Toward Preparedness

Morehart began reaching out to partners, such as Send Relief, and partnering churches, searching for practical ways churches could serve in the wake of disaster. Yet, without established structures or clear plans, even identifying needs proved challenging. “For me, trying to gain an accurate understanding of the actual needs has been extremely difficult,” he admitted.

That search for solutions led him to California Disaster Relief State Director Kendrick Neal and the California Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team. Together, they are now developing training designed specifically for Portuguese church leaders and volunteers. Neal will walk alongside Morehart in assessing needs, crafting strategies, and planning initiatives that focus on crisis ministry, spiritual and emotional care, and church engagement—equipping congregations not only to respond in moments of emergency but also to walk with their communities through the long process of recovery.



“My desire,” Morehart said, “is to see local churches across the country better supported and equipped to fulfill their God-given role as beacons of light and hope in the darkest of times.”

Ways to Pray

• Pray for the people of Portugal who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in the fires.
• Ask God to give wisdom and endurance to firefighters and local officials battling the blazes.
• Pray for Tyler Morehart and other IMB workers as they navigate challenges in communication and coordination, that doors would open for gospel witness in communities under strain.
• Pray that local churches would be strengthened and equipped to step into these moments of crisis with both compassion and the hope of Christ.