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Prayers, donations and volunteer help are part of Mississippi College’s response following Saturday morning’s tornado that killed four people in the Hattiesburg area.
“We have expressed our concerns, prayers and support,’’ President Lee Royce said. “We stand ready to help.’’
With winds of more than 135 mph, the tornado slammed into Pine Belt communities 4 a.m. Saturday. The powerful storm damaged every building on the campus of William Carey University. Students later evacuated the Baptist-affiliated school. Classes were moved to the University of Southern Mississippi. Other classes will be taught online.
Recovery efforts in the Hattiesburg and Petal areas will take months, officials say. The Red Cross, first responders, volunteers from churches and nearby communities offered immediate assistance.
Several MC organizations are partnering to gather items to donate to William Carey students and families. Leaders of the Student Government Association, the Baptist Student Union and Student Life Office are busy. They’re collecting snacks, bottled water, clothing, gift cards, bedding, toiletries, school supplies, tablets and phone chargers to aid relief efforts.
MC leaders will accept donations at BSU and Student Life offices through noon Friday as part of the initial shipment going to storm victims. In addition, cash was collected at MC’s student chapel program Tuesday at First Baptist Church Clinton.
On Friday, MC students plan to travel to Hattiesburg to offer assistance. The students will work with volunteers from area churches.
At Baptist-affiliated MC, several students stayed in contact with friends attending William Carey. The sister Baptist institution sits 90 miles south of Jackson.
One of her William Carey friends “had enough time to grab her shoes and pillow” and waited 30 minutes in her dormitory basement when the tornado struck, said MC student Michaela Wilder of Brandon. Her friend, Michelle Thompson, a Brandon High graduate, escaped injury.
MC student Sarah Brantley of Clinton has friends attending Southern Miss. She donated to a fund to help storm victims in the Hub City.
Students on the Clinton campus gathered for prayer time Sunday evening following the tornado. The storm left 20 injured in Forrest County, and heavily damaged many homes and businesses. At one point, thousands of residents were without power. The furious storms in the Southeast pushed the weekend death toll to 18 in Georgia and Mississippi.
Wayne VanHorn, dean of the MC School of Christian Studies and the Arts, serves as interim pastor at First Baptist Church Florence. His church in Rankin County sent crews to the Hattiesburg area to clear debris and take supplies to help people Saturday and Sunday.
MC students plan to continue to assist with relief efforts the next few weeks. And they will keep praying.
“My prayers are certainly with those affected,” said senior Ben Jenkins of Stringer in Jones County. “I am encouraged to know my fellow MC students are taking action to help those in need during this rough time.”
Scott William Crawford, pastor at First Baptist Church of Pearl, was relieved to know that his daughter, Emily, a William Carey student, was safe. She serves as a resident assistant at Johnson Hall, one of the dorms damaged. The school’s historic Clinton Gymnasium, and classroom buildings were among others ripped apart.
“Emily shared with us that the tornado sounded like a freight train when it hit the campus,’’ Crawford said. “And the tornado caused her dormitory to start shaking.’’
Hattiesburg police officers escorted Emily, her roommate and a friend to a safer building. Crawford thanked the Hattiesburg and William Carey police, firefighters, other first responders and countless volunteers for their help.
“We could not believe what we saw on our first walk around the campus,” Crawford said. “It is a miracle that no one was killed there.’’
For more details on assisting with tornado relief, contact the Office of Christian Development at 601-925-3235 or the BSU Office at 601-925-3238.
Photo: Photo Credit: Rogelio V. Solis, Associated Press
