The development of the Southern Baptist Emergency Amateur Radio Service (SouthBEARS) is a result of a cooperative effort of Southern Baptist Amateur radio operators.
The mission of SouthBEARS is to provide a network of support communication services to Southern Baptist volunteer groups and affiliated agencies during commercial communication disruptions; and to handle health and welfare messages in and out of disaster areas whenever time and priorities allow. This is accomplished using the resources and talents of Christian amateur radio operators. Since disaster relief is a fluid situation, we also strive to stay fluid, and attempt to meet the needs of every disaster victim through the medium of communication. We do these things for the glory of Christ's Kingdom.
Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we strive to exhibit an attitude that is as Christ-like as humanly possible to every contact, be it peer or disaster victim. We will consistently strive to labor for Jesus under the Bible verse, "..whatsoever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." Matthew 25:40 NIV
In times past, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) have encouraged SouthBEARS to check into their nets whenever possible and when doing so, to identify ourselves as SouthBEARS members. This provides us with yet another resource, with which to accomplish our mission and goals, by utilizing existing nets managed by fellow believers.
If you are interested in becoming part of SouthBEARS, please contact the Webmaster for more information
The development of the Southern Baptist Emergency Amateur Radio Service (SouthBEARS) is a result of a cooperative effort of Southern Baptist Amateur radio operators.
The mission of SouthBEARS is to provide a network of support communication services to Southern Baptist volunteer groups and affiliated agencies during commercial communication disruptions; and to handle health and welfare messages in and out of disaster areas whenever time and priorities allow. This is accomplished using the resources and talents of Christian amateur radio operators. Since disaster relief is a fluid situation, we also strive to stay fluid, and attempt to meet the needs of every disaster victim through the medium of communication. We do these things for the glory of Christ's Kingdom.
Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we strive to exhibit an attitude that is as Christ-like as humanly possible to every contact, be it peer or disaster victim. We will consistently strive to labor for Jesus under the Bible verse, "..whatsoever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." Matthew 25:40 NIV
In times past, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) have encouraged SouthBEARS to check into their nets whenever possible and when doing so, to identify ourselves as SouthBEARS members. This provides us with yet another resource, with which to accomplish our mission and goals, by utilizing existing nets managed by fellow believers.
If you are interested in becoming part of SouthBEARS, please contact the Webmaster for more information
The development of the Southern Baptist Emergency Amateur Radio Service (SouthBEARS) is a result of a cooperative effort of Southern Baptist Amateur radio operators.
The mission of SouthBEARS is to provide a network of support communication services to Southern Baptist volunteer groups and affiliated agencies during commercial communication disruptions; and to handle health and welfare messages in and out of disaster areas whenever time and priorities allow. This is accomplished using the resources and talents of Christian amateur radio operators. Since disaster relief is a fluid situation, we also strive to stay fluid, and attempt to meet the needs of every disaster victim through the medium of communication. We do these things for the glory of Christ's Kingdom.
Regardless of the situation or circumstance, we strive to exhibit an attitude that is as Christ-like as humanly possible to every contact, be it peer or disaster victim. We will consistently strive to labor for Jesus under the Bible verse, "..whatsoever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me." Matthew 25:40 NIV
In times past, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) have encouraged SouthBEARS to check into their nets whenever possible and when doing so, to identify ourselves as SouthBEARS members. This provides us with yet another resource, with which to accomplish our mission and goals, by utilizing existing nets managed by fellow believers.
If you are interested in becoming part of SouthBEARS, please contact the Webmaster for more information
Unit 5C:
The original Communications Unit 5 was built and operated by J.D. Goings, AA4P [SK] and Dale Culp, W1BPP Circa 1996. Both J.D. and Dale served as communicators with Unit 5 until the summer/fall of 2005. We are pulling information together on early 5C history. Please, if you have any information, forward it to the Webmaster
COMMUNICATIONS UNIT 5C GETS MAJOR FACE LIFT
October 2005, work began to refurbish unit 5C. Contents of the trailer were removed and a good cleaning of the exterior followed. The interior received thorough cleaning and a new coat of paint.
New tires were installed, 4 amateur radios, a business band radio and a citizen band radio were installed. Two gel cell batteries were added as backup for generated power.
Fixed antennas were mounted, message boards were affixed and other supplies were brought in. Our new Star Band satellite dish was set up and tested with the use of the unit’s new laptop computer.
A new Honda Deluxe generator was donated and quickly found a home within the unit. Roof top racks were installed to house HF antenna mast.
Virtually everything was reconfigured and carefully laid out. Unit 5 carries many state of the art features.
As of 12-13-05, 5C is near re-commissioning and is poised to re-enter service within Disaster Relief. The refurbishment will be an asset to our mission and Unit 5's control operators.
The attention to detail can certainly be seen as you walk into the unit. We are very pleased with the outcome of this project.
Many people have contributed to the success of this effort. 5C was issued the official call sign of N4GBC on January 21, 2006 completing the commissioning process.
Work and/material were donated by W4TL Terry Jones, K4JLG Lamar Grier, W4DJG Doyle Gantt, KF4HPY Ed Cravey, WB4T Roger Gibson, K4PDL Phil Loggins, W4WLT Larry Tyson, K4GRM Gary Morgan, N8EKA Vester Scott and W4MDS Ed Lewis.
Special thanks to K4RHJ, Ruth Jones for providing lunch on our work days.
Unit 14C:
This unit began as a vision in January, 1996, when it was determined that there was a need for first responder communications unit for the northern part of the state. At the time only two people in the Association had GBC Phase 1 training in communications. Contacts were made with several Christian individuals about this opportunity.
Outside today's Unit 14C Trailer
We had been searching for a trailer to outfit for Communications since late Spring, 1996 but had not been able to locate one suitable for our needs.
The unit was picked up on September 4. The team was put on a two hour alert on September 5. On September 6, the unit and team were called into service and deployed to Burgaw, North Carolina to support and provide logistical communications for two Feeding Units and two Clean-up/Recovery Units (GBC) that had been activated due to the devastation by Hurricane Fran. We feel that God answered our prayers by making the trailer available to us. The timing of this event was phenomenal.
The team had not had the opportunity to have an organizational meeting prior to departure. We assembled, prayed for guidance and departed in a convoy for North Carolina on the afternoon of September 6. We were set up and operational within 30 minutes after arriving on the Disaster Relief Site. We immediately established contact with a Feeding and Clean-up/Recovery Unit that had been deployed to Warsaw, North Carolina, which was 44 miles north of our site. We also established radio contact with the American Red Cross, the local Emergency Operations Center and the GBC Disaster Relief Director, allowing our efforts to be totally coordinated for maximum efficiency.
Since our early days, unit 14C has been called into service all over our State and many areas of our Nation providing critical communications with relief efforts form many Hurricanes, Floods, Tornados and The World Trade Center Disaster.
From our humble beginnings of less than 20 volunteers back in 1996, our volunteer base has increased to over 160 communications volunteers and counting. God is truly working within this Ministry.
