October 12, 2017
East Texas Baptist University sent more than 40 students, faculty, and staff to Southeast Texas to partner with First Baptist Church - Nederland, Texas Baptist Men, and Baptist Men of North Carolina in the disaster relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Harvey. The team left on Wednesday, October 4 and returned Sunday, October 8, spending their days working to repair homes in the area.
"Our teams were able to stand in the gap and make a difference in the midst of turmoil," ETBU Director of the Great Commission Center Lisa Seeley shared. "The students consistently handled difficult situations with grace and kindness as they ministered to the people impacted by Hurricane Harvey in the Nederland and Port Arthur area."
The group separated into three teams to serve 11 specific families in the region. They spent their time removing sheetrock, flooring, interior wood, and personal possessions from homes of families affected by the recent flooding. Through this trip, the team saw the effects of the hurricane, heard the stories of neighboring Texans, and offered spiritual and physical support.
"I was humbled by the experience," ETBU Tiger Baseball player Dylan Sumpter confessed. "I was grateful to have the opportunity to talk, mourn, and pray with the families. We were all working for a purpose, with a common goal to reflect Christ. I enjoyed working alongside my teammates and getting to know them on a deeper level."
Although the group was able to put many families on a path toward regaining their homes, they did encounter a setback. After spending the morning attempting to remove mold, the situation became increasingly dangerous. Eventually, an inspector informed the team that the house could not be restored. ETBU soccer student-athlete Samantha Martinez carried the burden of translating to the woman that she would lose her home. According to Dr. Seeley, this devastating experience, felt by the entire ministry team, served as a reminder that the recovery process is not in the hands of people, but in the Lord's.
"It was an eye-opening experience for all of us," ETBU Assistant Baseball Coach Kyle Palmer expressed. "Each night, we held a debriefing session in order to help the students process what they witnessed. It was rewarding to hear students, who normally do not open up, share their perspective. To have our players sacrifice their time shows that God is working in and through our ETBU students and that He can bring out the best in people through difficult circumstances."
Prior to this mission trip, East Texas Baptist was active in helping Hurricane Harvey victims recover from the storm's destruction. Immediately following the hurricane in late August, the University began collecting supplies, encouraging everyone on campus and in the community of Marshall to donate nonperishable foods and other basic supplies to assist those affected. ETBU President J. Blair Blackburn, with other ETBU faculty members, transported the supplies to the Houston area for those in need. In addition, the Tiger Bass Fishing and Men's Basketball teams spent time during the month of September mudding out homes in Lumberton, Texas. The University will continue to send out disaster relief teams in the coming months and years as needed.
"Our students are called to serve. That is part of our mission at ETBU," Dr. Blackburn said. "We want students to understand that it is their responsibility and calling from God to be servant leaders. These mission trips are an opportunity for them to put into practice what they have been taught here at ETBU by sharing the Gospel with those who are suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey."