Students head north to help in disaster relief
Cleaning House — Volunteers work alongside a homeowner to repair and clean his house that was damaged in recent storms in the Northeast. September’s record flood levels forced thousands to leave their homes in the Northeast. Photo credit: Timothy Moroz
Volunteers practice what they preach
Liberty Students packed into vans and headed to Binghamton, N.Y., on Friday, Sept. 23, to participate in the first disaster relief project with Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia.
The 111 Seminary and undergraduate student volunteers spent their weekend working in feeding units and alongside homeowners and New York residents to clean up and fix houses that were damaged in the recent Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, according to Professor of Evangelism and Associate Director of the Christian Ministry Training Center Dr. David Wheeler.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requested extra volunteers through the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, who then contacted Wheeler. After going through training last Wednesday, Sept. 21, the Liberty students were ready to participate in the relief efforts. However, their goals were not merely practical. They were also spiritual.
All aboard — Students fill two buses and head to Binghamton, N.Y., for disaster relief efforts. Thursday 200 more students will go to help. Photo credit: Joel Coleman
“The students are going to have a lot of opportunity to share the gospel, so that’s the primary reason we’re going, to share Jesus Christ with their communities,” State Disaster Relief Director for SBC of Virginia Mark Gaughier said in a quote from Liberty’s website.
The student volunteers were able to use this opportunity to minister and witness to the victims of these natural disasters.
On the morning of Sunday, Sept. 25, the volunteers gathered together with their individual groups for a makeshift church service in front of the houses that they were working on, according to Timothy Moroz, a graduate student assistant at Liberty and photographer for the trip to Binghamton. Wheeler said they also held a worship service in the streets.
“Some of the people went around to neighboring houses to invite people to a service on the lawn,” Moroz said.
Wheeler said that participation in disaster relief is important for Liberty because it is part of the school’s DNA and ministering to those in need is a significant part of Liberty’s mission.
“It’s just important for human being to help other people,” Wheeler said. “It’s imperative that Christians should be committed to serving and helping other people.”
The volunteers will return Tuesday, and next weekend, four more bus loads, comprised of about 210-215 students, will travel north — one group to Vermont and the other three to New York — to continue helping with the relief efforts.
“This is our opportunity to live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission at the same time,” Wheeler said.