Larry & Elaine Koch

Often when we think about sharing the gospel across the United States, we think about our 48 contiguous states plus Alaska and Hawaii. But there are other parts of  “America” around the world as well.

Kentucky Baptists are ministering in one of those places right now — American Samoa, an unincorporated territory of the United States in the South Pacific Ocean. The island suffered a devastating tsunami back in September and Southern Baptists have been helping ever since in a Hurricane Katrina-style clean-up and rebuilding effort.

Kentucky Baptists have sent two of our very best disaster relief volunteers to the island to serve as coordinators for all Southern Baptist work through April. Larry and Elaine Koch arrived on the island early this week. Larry is retired as disaster relief associate for the KBC and Elaine, a nurse, is a seasoned disaster relief volunteer.

The couple will help coordinate volunteer teams from Southern Baptist state conventions and be responsible for assessing the remaining needs of the area. They will also keep the North American Mission Board informed of progress.

So far, volunteers from six states have participated in what has until now been a relief effort focused mainly on water purification. During that phase, Southern Baptists helped purify more than 7,000 gallons of water.  The teams are now shifting to home repair work, which will include roofing, painting and other construction work.

Please be in prayer as these Kentuckians participate in fulfilling the Great Commission during the weeks ahead!