The Friday Finish – February 21, 2025
Hope and Assistance Lift Flood Burdens
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2
In the hills and hollers of Southeastern Kentucky, there are eyes full of tears and hearts that are broken as overwhelming rainfall and flooding causes widespread devastation across the region. In an effort to bring hope, the Red Bird Mission Community Outreach and Work Camp are serving as a beacon of light for families who have experienced loss and in need of immediate assistance. The communities served by Red Bird Mission are not strangers to severe weather as they have come face to face in the eye of thunderstorms, snow accumulations and harsh temperatures.
Early on the morning of Saturday, February 15th, rapid rain accumulation resulted in rivers rising obstructing roadways and damaging homes in a catastrophic flood event unlike anything the community of Red Bird Mission has seen for many years. The Red Bird River rises and spreads across the Red Bird Mission Queendale Campus, reaching the Red Bird Dental Clinic, Community Store, and covering the softball field. The Red Bird Christian School parking lot, where student pick up and drop off is located, becomes almost unrecognizable as the waters ravage through leaving behind a destruction of sand and gravel that will need immediate repairs of new gravel.
As a result of the flooding disaster and the bitter cold sweeping in the after the cold front, many families were without electricity, food and heat on Sunday. One elderly resident that participates in the Red Bird Mission Elderly Ministries and her beloved doggie had to be rescued by boat. (Link to Manchester Enterprise photo of the rescue.) The flooding destroyed heat pumps and families didn’t have access to sump pumps to remove water from inside their homes. Most of the main roads into the Red Bird River Valley were okay once the water receded but side roads, culverts and bridges that were flooded are badly damaged. Mud slides impacting roads and homes will require heavy equipment and trucks that is beyond the financial resources of families.
The monthly distributions from “Family to Family” and Gap Food Pantry of the Red Bird Mission Community Outreach come in a timing that could only be God’s, assisting families in need of emergency food, clothing and accessories this week. Faith partners and friends of Red Bird Mission join forces to serve the families of the community with generous flood relief donations on Monday. For those who have suffered from flood damages to homes, Community Outreach is providing emergency flood relief supplies such as flood buckets, portable sump pumps and bottled water.
Further complicating an already disastrous situation, Mother Nature says, "I'm not done yet," as 4- 6 inches of snow accumulation and dangerously cold temperatures arrive mid-week just days after the devastating flood event. Authorities have warned of potential new flooding risks as river levels remain elevated and could possibly rise again as a result of melting snow or additional rainfall. The residents of Eastern Kentucky and the communities around Red Bird Mission are more vulnerable now than ever and are hoping for a miracle.
A beacon of light in the community is the wonderful Red Bird Mission Work Camp staff offering to provide flood relief assistance to members of the community and families who have been affected. The team has been busy at work coordinating with staff in assistance to help clean up debris, trees and any other damage. As the Red Bird Mission Work Camp staff assesses damage in our service area, they are also working to coordinate available volunteers to needed projects. The staff and devoted community members of Red Bird Mission are a shining light amongst the darkness, showing the community kindness and compassion that our Lord shows us daily.
Matching Funds to Help Red Bird Storm Response
Red Bird Mission supporters concerned about the needs following the storms last weekend have been quick to respond to double their financial gifts through a $10,000 matching gift offer opened Wednesday evening. The match and gifts go towards Community Aid at Red Bird Mission to provide needed food, water and heat sources as families recover from the effects of flooding and power outages in the wake of the storms. The work of Community Outreach in response to disaster continues, so we’re asking you give online now by clicking the button below, or mail your check marked “2025 Winter Storms” to Red Bird Mission, Inc., 70 Queendale Ctr, Beverly, KY 40913-9607.
Charles Minks, Beloved Coach & Teacher
Funeral services were held Monday for Charles Minks, a well-loved and highly respected teacher, basketball coach, veteran, and local pastor. Minks coached Red Bird Boys Basketball from 1973 to 1988 and taught at Red Bird School impacting hundreds during his tenure in the classroom and on the court.
Allen Wilder, Red Bird Mission Safety and Compliance Officer, recalled Coach Minks’ high standard of accountability when he came out of a game feeling pretty good after scoring six points as a freshman on the junior varsity team. He said, “When I came out of the game, I thought I would get a compliment. I had taken one bad shot and Coach looks at a me and says, ‘What kind of shot was that last shot?’ I knew right there he meant business. He held us all accountable in the classroom, hallways; it didn’t matter where you were, he wanted each of us to be responsible for our own actions.”
Sylvester Nolan, Red Bird Mission Director of Maintenance and Community Housing Improvement, shared that five former Red Bird players and several players from Minks’ Dilce Combs 1993 Class A State Championship team attended the funeral. Sylvester said, “Players had respect for Coach Minks and wanted to do their best for him. He had a passion for winning but moreover a desire for each player to do their best and he was able to bring that out in each player.”
Jeff Smith shared how Charles Minks influenced his career choice to become a teacher and coach. “Personally, he was a strong male role model for me growing up. The confidence he had in me was all the motivation I needed to work to be the best I could be. He was a father figure to me, my mentor, and looking back, the main reason I went into coaching. He was tough, supportive, understanding when needed, and gave us all confidence that we could be better than we really were!
Christian men show their Christ like character by how we treat others in all situations. Being strong, stern, compassionate, understanding, and forgiving. Charles Minks exhibited all these traits.”
The Red Bird School Alumni Association awarded Minks the Barb Smith Living Legend Award last fall at the annual alumni homecoming meeting.