This website asks our volunteers to CONTACT GARY in order to get in touch with ABCDR leadership, but, sometimes this website contact method has way too much spam to wade through and your request or registration gets lost. Remember, we are all volunteers, but we do want to hear from ALASKA DR VOLUNTEERS (OUR TEAM MEMBERS) regardless of where they need to have the state DR director call them, have questions we can respond to via email or they need to register for a training event, DR rally or work day. During our deployment to Bethel, Alaska in November, 2025 Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief, with the help of an out-of-state DR partner, acquired a StarLink Internet System and a NEW DEDICATED ALASKA BAPTIST DISASTER RELIEF CELL PHONE NUMBER. We have tested this incoming (out-of-state) phone number for several months and have put in some spam filters so hopefully this new (texting only) phone number will allow Alaskans with a 907 area code to reach Alaska Baptist DR leadership using this new number that you might be able to memorize! If you are a member of Alaska DR, put this number in you phone dialer. Now you can CONTACT GARY with a text to (678) 678-9997. Someone will get back to you ASAP!
Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Ministry Training Updates:
Invitation to Introduction to Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Class, March 28, in Anchorage!
You are warmly invited to join us for the Introduction to Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) – Basic Training on Saturday, March 28 @ 9:00 AM, True North Church, 382 Muldoon Rd, Anchorage Alaska. This intro session, often referred to as DR-101, is designed for anyone interested in learning how to: serve within their local church, to serve alongside other DR volunteers, and / or to serve within their community during times of chaos and following the crisis; providing Hope, Help and Healing! Note that we will repeat this training on May 2, in Fairbanks. At either session you will learn how you can minister alongside others to bring practical assistance and the "Love of Christ" to those who are hurting during and following disasters.
If you are new to disaster relief and just need the introduction, join us! If you are ready to volunteer as a part of our statewide Disaster Relief Ministry Team, this DR 101 class is required, join us! If it has been over 3 years since your last 101 class, this re-enlistment session is necessary to maintain your membership, so join us at True North. This 3-hour session is offered free of charge and without an advanced reservation, just join us! We begin at 9:00 AM with sign in and fellowship! Training begins at 9:30 AM, followed by a 12:30 PM "free meal." During the meal we will discuss how you can join our Alaska Baptist DR Team (it is optional, but there is a $40 fee for the official identification badge, t-shirt and background check for those who choose to sign up for DR Team Membership for the first time).
Our time together will deepen your understanding of crisis recovery ministry, plus we will cover the history, mission, and methods of both Alaska and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, as well as show you several pathways to getting involved. We will overview clean-up tasks (usually the biggest demand of our time), spiritual care(chaplaincy) shower and laundry ministries (a great way to share the Love of Jesus) and our cooperative efforts with local/state government and other faith-based recovery groups. We also want to introduce you to OPAL (our DR Operations-Planning-Administration and Logistics strategy) and to Ready Church (how to develop a DR plan for your church)! Come discover how you can touch lives, make a difference in Alaska and be ready to respond effectively alongside your church and/or with the DR team when help is needed most. Oh yes, please invite your entire church, then bring a friend and experience DR preparation together!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 28!
Gary Bearce - Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief – State Director
If you cannot join us on March 28, consider join us in Fairbanks on May 2 or hosting this training at your own church!
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Invitation to Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Round Table 2026 and Introduction to Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Class, May 2, in Fairbanks!
You are warmly invited to join all Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Volunteers for our Round Table 2026! A Round Table is a "Team Rally and Banquet" focused on Serving Our Savior together through the servant ministry of disaster relief, both in Alaska and across our nation! Our National DR leadership will join us as we focus on what God has done through our recent efforts, including recognizing some faithful Alaskan leaders, what God is doing through our current recovery efforts, especially in Western Alaska, and what is taking place in the way of 2026 deployment preparation, current class training and new DR equipment donations! Coy Webb, our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief champion, will be our keynote presenter, but he will have other DR leaders with him.
We are working with our Fairbanks DR members to make this a very special rally and luncheon and hopefully many from across the state will join us. We will provide registration information, hotel possibilities and the name of our host church soon, but we want to make sure we get this on your calendar now. We really do hope this will be a 'thank-you Lord celebration' for our past successes, a focus on our ongoing purpose 'to bring Help, Hope and Healing to Alaskans during some of the darkest times in their lives, an inspirational challenge that we can do more as we enlist Ready Churches, double our number of volunteers and, at times, deploy beyond our own state to ministry wherever God's love is needed!
Did I mention that we will offer DR 101 again? Following the Team Rally and Banquet on May 2 we will repeat the Basic or Intro. to DR training, often referred to as DR-101! Again, this basic training is designed for anyone interested in learning how to: serve within their local church, to serve alongside other Alaska DR volunteers, and / or to serve within their community during times of chaos and following the crisis; providing Hope, Help and Healing! As always, the intro session is free, and provides lots of great information, but you will be asked to pay the one time registration fee, as noted above, if you choose to join Volunteer Team!
You can join us for both the event in Anchorage and the event in Fairbanks. You can join us for both the Team Rally and Banquet and the DR-101 class in Fairbanks on May 2. You can contact me through the website and request the DR-101 class in your church. Join us!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 2!
Gary Bearce - Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief – State Director
Join us! Consider being a vital part of bringing Help, Hope, and Healing to others through Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief!
The best way to get involved is to "join us" in training. We are scheduling our BASIC TRAINING, sometimes called DR 101 in local churches. Check on Contact Gary to schedule training at your church or to ask a question.
Support Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief
Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief relies on generous donors to provide critical services during disasters. From clearing debris to offering meals and spiritual care, volunteers serve wherever there's need. Your support equips teams to bring timely relief and hope to Alaskan families.
To give online, click on the button below. Then under "Select a fund," choose "Alaska Disaster Relief." Thank you so much for your generous gift.
Updated October 18, 2025
Ready to take a closer look? Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is a Christian network bringing HELP, HOPE, and HEALING to people in crisis.
Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief, is a ministry of the Alaska Baptist Resource Network, working with our national partner - Send Relief, plus 1000s of churches within 42 Southern Baptist State Conventions serving, preparing, and training collaboratively for God's glory and sharing God's great love for the good of people, especially during times of crisis when people are seeking answers! Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief offers preparation and training sessions throughout the year in local churches to enable families, church volunteers, and team members to respond in their community and throughout our state alongside FEMA, Emergency Management, and other government, private, and faith-based agencies and/or ministries.
With preparation and training within local churches and by "Calling Out" more than 95,000+ currently equipped volunteers on state disaster relief teams, we respond to most disasters in the US and 100s more across the world each year. "We envision all SBC life engaged in disaster relief preparation and training through the church, to serve the community, and for the Gospel." By God's grace, we bring Help and Hope, and the Gospel brings Healing. God started His kingdom on earth with Jesus – it is Good News! In a very troubled world, He is reconciling all things to himself (Col. 1:20).
Serving with you, Gary Bearce, Alaska Baptist Disaster Relief Coordinator
