2025 Celebration Overview
​The 2025 NMBDR Celebration will be held on Thursday-Saturday, April 3-5 2005, at First Baptist Church in Ruidoso. The program includes three tracks of instruction that target those new to disaster relief as well as sessions for experienced volunteers. The program is found below. Attendees are free to “mix and match” according to interests.
​
​
​Out-of-town attendees are welcome to stay at FBC Ruidoso during Celebration. We will set up “deployment style accommodations,” which many of you have experienced in past deployments there. Attendees are also welcome to stay in RVs parked at the church. Hook-ups will not be available, but facilities inside the church will be open to them as well. Attendees are also welcome to make their own arrangements at local hotels if desired.
​
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
​
PLENARY SESSIONS​
​
Sharing Faith with Hurting People - Pastor Todd Sullens, FBC Ruidoso:
Sharing and modeling Christ within the context of genuine compassion in disaster relief often opens doors and hearts to the Gospel that are normally not accessible. Not just doing the work but showing genuine interest in the survivors will more likely open the door to a Spirit-led conversation. Preparing our own hearts and mind, as well as short, simple, and effective ways for sharing Christ will be the focus of this inspiring message.
​
Roundtable 2025 Review & Lessons Learned in 2024:
Report of the highlights from the national SBDR Roundtable and State Director's meeting in January, major challenges and lessons learned from NMBDR deployments in 2024, and news from white hats over each NMBDR ministry area. Ed Greene and White Hats.
TRACK A SESSIONS
Intro to NMBDR - Ed Greene:
The basic training required for all NMBDR volunteers and is also the opportunity for the required 3-year credential renewal. ​
​
Feeding Basics - Brad Gabel & Dorothy Rolfs:
The fundamentals of safe food handling and preparation. Required for those taking the QRK feeding class.
Assessment Basics - Mike Mason: Developing accurate damage assessments based on the NMBDR Assessment Manual. Ideally, participants will have cleanup and recovery experience or the Flood and Fire 101 course.
​
Intro to Chaplaincy - Kathleen & Angus Campbell:
Introduction and overview of the role and responsibilities of DR chaplains. Those wishing to become chaplains will need additional classroom instruction.
​
Packing a go bag - Kathryn Spangle:
What to take, what to leave home, and what you can live without.
​
Flood and Fire 101 - Clayton Murphy:
An overview of cleanup and recovery operations and practices, based upon the NMBDR Recovery Manual.
Chainsaw basics - Clayton Murphy & Jim Jensen:
The safe and effective use of chainsaws, site safety, basic saw maintenance, and proper use of personal protective equipment.
​
Laundry and Shower - Butch Putman:
Short discussion of setup and operations - and hands on breakdown of laundry and shower trailers.
TRACK B SESSIONS
Safe trailer movements - John Rupley:
The safe and effective inspection, setup, maintenance, and maneuvering of utility trailers.
​
Mastering Chainsaws - Jim Jensen:
Overcoming hard-to-start saws, best practices for chain sharpening, and handling difficult situations. Jim Jensen
Effective Assessments - John Rupley & Rick Donnelly:
Examples of the most useful assessments and best practices from IMT operations chiefs who rely upon them for project scheduling.
​
DR Technology Tools - Rick Donnelly: Communicating when cell phones and the local internet aren’t an option and the use of drones in DR work.
Feeding with the QRK - Brad Gabel & Dorothy Rolfs:
Setup and use of the Quick Response Kitchen. This class is open to anyone interested in the feeding ministry.
​
TRACK C SESSIONS
Compassion in Crisis - Ed Greene:
How to communicate effectively with those in crisis from a Christ-centered perspective for meeting their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs.
​
Resiliency in Disaster Relief - Dennis Belz (Colorado SBDR Director:
Prepare DR workers to recognize the signs and symptoms of DR-related stress and trauma, avoid post-traumatic stress disorder, make use of organizational and community support resources, and building your own stress reduction and coping strategies.
Durable Volunteers - Rick Donnelly:
Strategies for remaining healthy and in top performance during deployments, with a focus on effective sleep practices, nutrition and hydration, and avoiding environmental hazards.
