Interviewer(s): Ernesto Valdez

Projects: University of Houston

This interview with Rev. Hystad was conducted on August 3, 2006 at his office at the Second Baptist Church, 6400 Woodway Dr, Houston, Texas 77057.

The pastors of the church selected Rev. Hystad to ascertain what assistance the church could offer the countywide effort that was being mobilized to assist the New Orleans evacuees. After several inquiries it was determined that there was a need to provide cooked meals for the people who were housed at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

To successfully conduct this effort, Rev. Hystad called upon the Texas Baptist Men, which is a group that is experienced in providing hot meals in such times of disasters. However, this required the gathering and training of volunteers. Once the word went out, Second Baptist Church called upon all denominations to assist in this endeavor code named Operation Compassion. Over the three weeks of active relief work, a multi-denominational response to the call for help netted tens of thousands of trained volunteers who helped with all aspects of food reparation for the evacuees and the army of workers.

The interview was conducted by Ernesto Valdés, Center for Public History, University of Houston where the tape is deposited in M.D. Anderson Library on the main campus of the university.