CARBON, Texas—Some Texans had a disastrous start to the New Year as wildfires raged across the state, damaging towns such as Nocona, Ringgold, Cross Plains and Carbon.

Since Dec. 26, aircraft have flown numerous missions and dropped thousands of pounds of fire retardant in potentially hazardous areas. There have been more than 400 fires since the day after Christmas, burning over 250,000 acres and destroying 339 homes.

One of those demolished homes belonged to Jody Forbus, pastor of an SBTC church, Carbon Community Baptist in Carbon, about 140 miles southwest of Fort Worth in Eastland County.

Forbus told the TEXAN the members of Carbon Community stepped outside after their Sunday church service Jan. 1 to find a billow of smoke swirling up toward the sky in the distance. But they weren’t taken completely by surprise, because the town of Carbon had been on alert after hearing about the wildfire destruction of nearby Cross Plains.

“We had some friends coming over after church,” Forbus said. “But we decided to go and check on some of our members first. The local fire department told us this was a monstrous fire and it had already taken a couple of homes. So we began to help unload some things from our member’s home.”

The Forbus family headed back to their own home briefly to water the yard and grab a few articles of clothing and some pictures hanging in the hallway, but didn’t think they were in the path of danger yet.

They ventured back out to help friends and neighbors remove their belongings so they could flee, but Forbus soon realized that he and his family were in trouble. Unfortunately, the wind shifted and when they arrived at their house (after taking the long way around), it was too late. Their house was in flames.

“We had just finished an extensive remodel of our home,” Forbus said. “The devastation came from the memories that we lost—the small things you don’t think of—the things our children made us and stuff like that.”

Nevertheless, Forbus said his hope lies in the Lord. “I really think the big thing the Lord has taught me is humility. I am so used to being a pastor by responding to others’ needs and a servant … that it’s hard to be on the receiving end of that. This has really been a humbling experience for (my family).”

Forbus, his wife, and three children have received gifts, food, clothes, money  and furniture from their church, the local community, people across Texas, and the SBTC. “Everyone has been so gracious and we are very blessed,” Forbus said.

Just a week after he lost his home and all his belongings, this small-town pastor stood in the pulpit and preached hope.

“I tried to answer their one question—‘Why?’ I brought a message on how alone Jesus felt on the cross and just as he asked ‘Why?’ it’s OK for us to ask ‘why?’ as long as we don’t live in despair,” Forbus said.

Out of the 45 homes destroyed in Carbon, six of those families were members of Carbon Community Baptist Church. And each family from the church has been ministered to tremendously, Forbus said.

Local and state authorities, as well as Southern Baptists across Texas are helping the victims of this tragedy.

Deron Biles, Minister/Church Relations Director, said, “I am aware of several areas where the SBTC has been able to a