Students at Oklahoma Baptist University will return to most campus buildings for two final weeks of in-person classes this semester, President Heath Thomas reported April 26. Every building on the Shawnee, Okla., campus was damaged by tornadoes and high winds…
Oklahoma Baptist University hit by tornado
Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee, Okla., took a direct hit from tornadoes that blew through Central Oklahoma Wednesday evening, April 19. According to published news reports and photos posted online, the campus sustained significant damage, but no person was harmed….
Twister blows up a crisis in the BubbaDoo’s family
I’m used to the phone ringing at odd hours. Or at least as used to that as you get. Nothing about the sacred call upon a minister’s life for vocational work completely smooths over untimely interruptions. If the call comes…
Tennessee twisters move Baptists into short- and long-term disaster response
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is standing by to help after storm-induced tornadoes killed at least 24 people and damaged close to 150 buildings, including several churches, in Middle Tennessee early Tuesday morning. CBF’s expertise is in long-term recovery that typically…
Pastor rushes home to Missouri city pounded by twister
First Baptist was only a few blocks from the tornado’s path but sustained no damage, Sager said. His home wasn’t touched and so far no members of the church have reported damage through the church’s available social media outlets.
Texans continue rebuilding from last year’s natural disasters
As Garry Schaffer monitored the quickly approaching storm on his computer, he soon realized he needed to go downstairs to get his wife, Kan, and seek safety in a closet. The couple had enjoyed a nice Christmas the day before…
Lessons from storms past and present
Early this morning, I drove north on Scenic Highway, one of the most beautiful coastal drives in America. And yet, as the sunrise glistened over Escambia Bay, the picturesque Florida scenery was scarred by nature’s whim. Stately oaks were uprooted,…
Want to change your congregation? Find a crisis
Five years ago I spent two weeks in the hospital. I did not enjoy it. It was for a reason that had been creeping up on me for about a month. I had been to my doctor—a general practitioner–twice during…
‘Loving OK’ succeeds despite low turnout
By Jeff Brumley Last week’s “Loving Oklahoma” tornado recovery campaign saw inspiring cooperation between Texas Baptists and Cooperative Baptists, but fell way short of its goal of drawing the 1,000 volunteers organizers wanted. Even so, planners said concerted effort to…