Associated Baptist Press - Houston school suffers from Ike; Baptists respond in Texas, La.

Houston school suffers from Ike; Baptists respond in Texas, La.

By ABP staff

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

HOUSTON (ABP) -- Baptists continued Sept. 17 to send relief teams into hard-hit areas along the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which battered the area five days earlier.

In the storm’s path, Houston Baptist University suffered an estimated $8-10 million in wind, water and structural damage.

HBU’s student center -- which houses admissions offices, the band hall, the bookstore, the university’s television station, offices and food areas -- and the administrative complex were hardest hit, according to a statement on the HBU website.

HBU President Robert Sloan cancelled classes through at least Sept. 17 and other scheduled on-campus events through Sept. 18. The statement said students will not be allowed back on campus “until further notice.”

Baptists continue to assess damage to churches and ministries. First Baptist Church of Galveston has reported a near-record amount of water in its facility. Ike’s surge level fell between those of a record-setting 1900 storm and a 1915 hurricane as indicated by the congregation’s outdoor sign marking the levels of storm surges the church has weathered.

The church will hold services off the island this weekend. Members have already begun to clean up the facility.

In many areas throughout nearby Houston the most pressing problems are lack of electricity to keep food from spoiling and no water.

Texas Baptist Men has sent chainsaw teams to communities around Houston, including Livingston, The Woodlands, Beaumont, Buna and Huntsville.

BGCT Executive Director Randel Everett visits a feeding unit set up by Texas Disaster Relief where volunteers are preparing 40,000 meals each day.

Texas Disaster Relief also has responded with feeding units, including a mega-feeding site at League City where volunteers are preparing 40,000 meals each day and transporting them to more than 20 locations. The relief group has set training sessions throughout the state to prepare additional volunteers to respond to needs in the Houston-Galveston area.

Assessment also continues in Louisiana, which has been affected by Ike as well as Hurricane Gustav in recent weeks. Some associational directors of missions are calling for churches in other parts of the nation to consider partnering with churches hit hard by the latest round of storm damage.

According to news reports, Louisiana Baptist Convention Executive Director David Hankins was to meet Sept. 17 with officials of the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board. The leaders would determine the level of assistance the national body might be able to provide to Louisiana.

During a Sept. 15 teleconference on hurricane recovery on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, Patty Whitney of Bayou Interfaith Shared Community Organizing noted a 9-foot storm surge from Gustav hit Houma, La., damaging 13,000 buildings.

First Baptist Church there lost a new eight-building day school in its final construction phase.

Baptist volunteers continue to provide meals and assist with cleanup in Baton Rouge.

-30-

-- John Hall contributed to this story.

Read more:

Relief, recovery efforts begin after Ike ravages Texas coast (9/15)

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I Will Be Praying For These Ministries
written by Nicholas Z Cardot, September 17, 2008

It's always tragic to see good ministries torn apart by storms like this. I hope that they are able to rebuild quickly.

I hope that they have some insurance. Even if they do, however, they still have a lot of work in front of them.

I hope that they are able to keep moving forward for the glory of God despite these horrible events.

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