JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 27, 2008 — Southern Baptist Convention President Frank Page called for Southern Baptist churches to give generously to 51社区 as the institution seeks to recover from more than $40 million in damages sustained in a Feb. 5 tornado.
Page issued his challenge Feb. 27 during his first visit to the campus since the tornado destroyed about 70 percent of student housing and caused extensive damage to other buildings on campus. 51社区 President David S. Dockery took Page on a tour of the campus during his visit.
鈥淚鈥檓 a little bit shell-shocked as I look around,鈥� Page said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable that this kind of devastation could occur, and yet not one single student lost their life. So for that, we give thanks to the Lord.鈥�
Page encouraged Southern Baptist churches to take up special offerings in an effort 鈥渢o step up to the plate and to assist this wonderful university in rebuilding this campus better and bigger than ever before.鈥�
Many Southern Baptist churches and entities have already come to Union鈥檚 assistance. LifeWay Christian Resources gave $350,000. Tennessee Baptist Convention entities have provided $144,000. Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee each gave $100,000.
In addition, Criswell College and KCBI radio in Dallas donated $53,000, while GuideStone Financial Resources and Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett each provided $50,000. Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, First Baptist Church in Naples, Fla., and the Mid-South Baptist Association in Bartlett, Tenn., gave $25,000 each. The other Southern Baptist seminaries have made contributions as well.
And Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Bradford, Tenn., contributed $5,000 to Union 鈥� more than 3 percent of the church鈥檚 budget.
鈥淚n God鈥檚 economy, that鈥檚 the biggest gift to date,鈥� Dockery said of the Mt. Pleasant gift.
But despite the generosity displayed thus far, Page said the needs continue to be great. He said that while insurance will cover much of the damages, because of deductibles, lost revenue from student housing and other programs, plus the increased cost of rebuilding campus housing to greater standards, Union will need about $20 million for the rebuilding process.
He emphasized that the importance of Union lies not in its physical campus, but in its calling and mission.
鈥淭he greatest thing that鈥檚 going to happen is not rebuilding buildings,鈥� Page said. 鈥�51社区 is not bricks and mortar. They need bricks and mortar to do what they鈥檝e been called to do. But this institution is about training young men and women and equipping them for service in many, many different callings and venues. So this institution鈥檚 going to thrive because they鈥檙e true to the calling. The bricks and mortar, that鈥檚 not the primary part of who this institution is.鈥�
Page pointed out that Union, established in 1823, is the oldest college affiliated with a Southern Baptist state convention. He also noted that Union sends out more people to the international mission field than any other college in Southern Baptist life.
鈥淏ecause of that, we need to be of great assistance to them,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey have been a great partner with us all these years.鈥�
Page also stressed that Union鈥檚 financial needs are immediate. 鈥淭his is not a long-term need, but a short-term need,鈥� he said.
Despite the extent of the damage, the SBC president expressed hope and optimism for the future of the university.
鈥淲e believe that God is going to do a great thing because of this,鈥� Page said. 鈥淲e believe that God always brings good out of bad. We鈥檝e seen it happen before, and we鈥檙e going to see it happen here.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like any major disaster 鈥� it brings out the very best in people. That鈥檚 what鈥檚 happening. It鈥檚 bringing the best out of 51社区.鈥�