Tornado devastates Union University campus
February 6th, 2008
Now I know how Jack Bauer feels.
The past 24 hours have been the most intense day of my life. Many of you have read about the tornado that ripped through the Union University campus last night, reducing several dorm buildings to heaping piles of debris and trapping nine students in the process. (Timmy Brister has a good collection of resources, and The Jackson Sun is another place where you can find lots of info.)
To walk around the campus and survey the damage, there’s only one logical conclusion: that God’s providence is the only reason nobody was killed. It is staggering to see these buildings now and wonder how everyone got out alive. Thanks be to God for His kindness to us.
I came home last night at 3:30 a.m. for all of 30 minutes — long enough to take a shower and head back to campus. By my ballpark estimate, I’ve probably received more than 300 phone calls during the past day from media outlets all over the country. I did interviews (in the freezing cold) on Fox News and CNN, as well as ABC, NBC and CBS affiliates in Memphis, Nashville and Jackson.
Challenges abounded. Our web site was down, so we had to find alternative ways to communicate to students, parents and friends about what was happening on campus. One of my most bothersome problems was keeping my cell phone charged. Worst of all was the uncertainty about the welfare of our students who were trapped in the dorms.
I returned home about 6:30 this evening, physically exhausted and emotionally spent. And the difficulties are just beginning, as we are now faced with the difficult task of rebuilding a campus that largely lies in ruins. The trajectory of my professional — and personal — life has been altered significantly.
I’m so thankful for your prayers for me and for Union University over the past day. They have encouraged me greatly.
I received offers of help almost immediately, most significantly from my friend Chris Turner. Many uplifting messages came from other friends and from people I don’t even know. The outpouring of support has been overwhelming and humbling. And I know it’s just beginning.
Please continue to keep Union University and its president, David Dockery, in your prayers in the weeks and months ahead. Dr. Dockery now faces pressures and burdens I can’t begin to fathom. But I can’t help but think that God is going to use him in a powerful way to accomplish something wondrous on Union’s campus. I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
The needs, however, are massive. Please consider making a donation to:
Union University Disaster Relief Fund
1050 Union University Drive
Jackson, TN 38305
Tim,
You guys have handled this phenomenally brother. Praise God for the patience you guys have shown with reports and parents, perseverance amidst seemingly insurmountable crisis and carnage, and pastoral comfort you have shown to everyone affected by the storms.
Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers, and if there is anything I (or any other blogger) can do to help with communication or collaboration, please let us know. As I said elsewhere, there is perhaps not another group of believers better equipped mentally and spiritually to handle something as colossal as this than the good people at Union U. May these experiences in life serve as opportunity to glorify God and flesh out the Christian worldview that Union and Dr. Dockery have so faithfully taught throughout the years.
With you,
Timmy Brister
Great job Tim… Now get some rest!
j razz
Tim, I have always been proud and grateful to be, first, a UU student, and now for the past fourteen years, an alumnus, but never more proud than I have been today. Even as I’m heartbroken over the destruction of a place where I spent some of the best years of my life and can scarcely speak of UU today without crying, I am so grateful for what God has already done and WILL do through Union as she rebuilds. There’s not a doubt in my mind that UU will survive this and be back better than before. God’s hand is on this university. My entire family will be lifting up you and everyone at Union in prayer.
If you think of it (I know you have plenty to think of already!), the next time you see C. Jayne, tell her Shari is thinking of and praying for her.
Shari Long
UU grad ‘93 & ‘94
Memphis, TN
Tim,
We are praying for the Union Community and are thankful for one of our finest universities as Baptists. God bless you all.
Be strong my friend. Our prayers are with you all.
We love you guys.
Tim, you did a great job. I saw you on TV. Hang in there. God is faithful.
Something about Union just gets in your blood…it hurts me to see so much damage there. I’m so thankful everyone is safe.
-glenna-
(2003 alum)
Great job dealing with everything and getting it on the air for all the media outlets.
As an alum, I am heartbroken over the pictures.
Sitting in the newsroom here at Channel 5, my heart broke with every new picture.
Let me know if there is any help you guys/gals need up there.
And tell Dr. Dockery to get some rest. He looked spent tonight at 6 on the news.
God bless you all.
And pray for Union University.
Been thinking about you. Thanks for the update.
Tim, I’m very thankful that you and everyone else at Union are safe. All of you are in our prayers. We had special prayer at church for y’all tonight and will continue to do so.
God is in control and He is good. This will work out for His glory.
Tim,
I saw that you posted a place to send donations, but would it help to come up there and do some manual labor? Let me know. I have heard about a couple of guys considering driving up from Memphis, but I didn’t know if it would be helpful or actually get in the way (or even if they would be allowed to help). Know that we are praying for you guys.
Tim, it breaks my heart that you even had to post this image…but I am ever so thankful that there was no loss of life on campus. I pray for your continued strength and your witness through these tough hours and days.
Yesterday, friends here at Belmont spent a great deal of time talking about what we can do individually and as a community to help. President Fisher issued a community-wide email yesterday calling for support for Union and letting the campus know that there will be opportunities to assist. I understand that there have already been calls/connections at other levels.
Know that I am praying for you now.
Take care, Paul:)
We are the parents of David Clay a freshman at Union. David attends your church and knows you through his uncle Scott Lamb. Tim, we can’t thank you enough for your hard work for the Union community during this time. May the Lord bless your continued work and give you His wisdom in the days ahead. Ephesians 3:16-21
You guys are continually in our thoughts and prayers Tim. The coming weeks and months will be challenging for both Union and the Jackson community.
I agree with you completely that God had been merciful to all of us through this. The last time a tornado hit Union, it passed right over our house ripping the shingles off and breaking all of my front windows. We were spared any damage this time but others were not as fortunate. Many right up the street from me had their houses completely destroyed.
One thing that disasters like this do is to bring the concept of theodicy to the front and center. Because disasters like this effect so many people in so many ways, we ask,”How could God allow this to happen?” The responses to that question are many and varied. Some dismiss the question as inappropriate. Some credit God for the good but Satan or randomness for the misfortune. I think that the questioning is valid and how we answer that question in the coming days is critical.
Tim,
Any word on whether the school will be able to finish the semester? Are the classrooms in as bad of shape as the dorms?
Prayers from Marion, IL. We are praying for you and everyone who was affected. May God be glorified somehow throughout the healing process.
Tim I’d be happy to drive down and do manual labor too, or anything else I can do. Keep us apprised of the needs of everyone.
In prayer for you all…
Matt
Union has set up a schedule of events and given dates and times for volunteer help. You can read about it here.
j razz
Hi. I’ve sent along this post to everyone that I usually send stuff to by both e-mail and Facebook. I’ll be keeping you in my prayers and be trying to help as much as I can.
Rena Ball
Right now, TEMA (and maybe FEMA) are calling the shots, along with the Jackson PD and FD. National Guard troops are maintaining security in the area. The UU admin is working to try to get access by faculty and staff to student areas that are stable enough to clean out. Right now, only UU official personnel are allowed close to the buildings. It’s uncertain today exactly how outside volunteers will be used and when, so keep watching www.uurecovery.com
We at UU appreciate all of you who offer to help, and we will need it someday. Please be patient as we work out a plan, along with the state and federal emergency agencies.
The faculty and admin are also working on a plan to finish the classes this semester with the proper number of class hours. Basically the only classroom space that won’t be available is Jennings Hall. The PAC, BAC, SUB, and White are usable. I haven’t heard about Hammons (where Lifeway is), but it appears okay.
Bill,
Any word on whether the Christian Studies professors offices (and books) were a complete wash-out?
I would love to be able to do something to help out profs. in the replacement of books. Any word on that situation?
Scott Lamb
I know that yesterday they were hauling the books out of Jennings Hall. The person I spoke to said that not all was lost and not all of the books were water damaged. That is all the information I have on books. I’m sure Ray would know better.
j razz
HI to all the students of Union University,
God was protecting you the whole time!! Now you know that you have a special mission on the earth. Guys, may God keep blessing you.
Karina