Page 23 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2023

Ken and Dawn Wetzel.
“We genuinely aspire to the belief that 'it's not about the recognition... it's about the relationships.' Concurrently, we relish the opportunity to be ambassadors for the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Wetzel said. “We respond to natural disasters and personal crisis
as well. Our motto is serve God. serve family, serve others.”
New Life Disaster Relief has had many projects. A few of their standouts include helping repair and rebuild several small independent churches in at-risk neighborhoods in Moss Point, Gulfport, and the New Orleans ninth ward.
Another favorite project was starting the annual Adopt-A-Child Christmas program here 15 years ago. For 14 years they've been joined by Quincy University from Illinois in providing gifts for overlooked and underserved children. In December 2018, New Life and Quincy University provided gifts to an entire third grade class in Panama City, Florida, after Hurricane Michael. In 2021 they were able to provide gifts for nearly 1,000 kids in Louisiana, and Mississippi after Hurricane Ida.
Born and raised in Biloxi, Ken Wetzel has lived on the Coast all but 10 years of his life. Dawn Wetzel was born in Michigan and moved to Biloxi at age two. They have been married 18 years and are the parents of four children, Stephen, Cain, Elizabeth and Paul. “All of our kids are very active volunteering with NLDR and have traveled throughout the Southeast with us to respond to disasters,” Ken Wetzel says.
He worked 11 years as a hospital administrator in several Southeastern states, and then worked 11 years
in insurance and investments until Katrina hit. “When Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, many of the businesses that I provided employee benefits to struggled to rebuild, and it largely decimated my insurance business.” he says. “I began volunteering and leading volunteer groups.”
In December 2005, the Wetzels made the decision to embark on a faith walk by becoming a full-time volunteers funded solely by donations. “While I am not an ordained minister, our mission and effort are strongly influenced by our Christian faith, and
directed by the Word of God and His Spirit,” he said.
For his community leadership, Ken Wetzel has been recognized with
a number of awards including a Presidential Call to Service Award presented by President George W Bush; Hope Crisis Response Network Volunteer of the Year; Youth For Christ Volunteer of the Year; Hands-On USA Outstanding Volunteer; City of Biloxi Community Volunteer of the Year;
and GIVE (Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence) Award.
Additionally, NLDR was featured on Fox News, Good Morning America and CBN’s 700 Club.
“We are blessed and honored to receive this recognition on behalf of those who have faithfully served our community, our ministry, and our family,” Wetzel said. “Amazingly, New Life Disaster Relief has continued to serve without receiving government grants, denominational funding, or corporate sponsorships.”
The ministry is always pleased to accept prayers, monetary and material donations and volunteers.
228.596.0390 www.newlifedisasterrelief.org
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living | www.smliving.net
December 2023 | 23