Storms Destroy Much of Union University Campus

Tornadoes

Think of this next time Pat Robertson and others like him start shrieking that God will bring natural disasters to the vilest sinners.

Seems that, frequently, the big tornadoes that make the news have hit churches, sometimes during Sunday services. And now a Southern Baptist university.

I pray for the victims' families and friends. And for the institutions like this one. But the self-righteous need to think before they predict horrible things like this will hit Disney World, etc.

Come to think of it, that vile Disney World has never been struck by a life-taking natural disaster has it? Even with their abominable "Gay Day" and their movie productions which are sometimes apparently offensive to 'good Christians'?

Union University

Where can we donate to help the students and the school recover?

Our prayers are with you.

God has been so good to us! We are thankful and praising Him for His care. May His name be glorified.

My prayer for your loss.............

In the midst of turmoil and tradegy, God is good. My prayers are with you and I hold you close in thought and supplications and ask that our God will bless you and see you through this. Peace and love throughout this country and world are being delivered to you as we speak. Have faith and continue to lift all things up to our Lord. He does deliver, as evidenced that, hopefully, no lives were lost. Buildings can and will be replaced.

Where to send relief

According to the blog set up by the university, you can send gifts to:

Union University Disaster Relief Fund

1050 Union University Drive

Jackson, TN 38305

http://uuemergency.blogspot.com/2008/02/disaster-relief-fund.html

God had his hand convering each and every one of us who was there on campus. I personally saw none of the damage until the next morning and now I am thanking and praising God that me and my friends made it through safely!!

Glory to God

P.Price, I'm sorry for you. Why do you care about what a man says. God says that rain will fall on the just and unjust. I'm so very grateful there was NO life lost at Union. Not even any life-threatening injuries. God receives the glory for that. Not to say that those who DID lose loved ones are unjust. It really doesn't matter unless God SAYS that's what he's doing. I haven't heard him say so, have you? The Almighty God that I serve will be with all who suffered on any level during this storm. THAT is what matters. Also, what matters is that God will NOT be mocked...THAT's probably what you need to be worrying about.

Paul Price, thank you for lumping yourself in the same group of people that use tragedies to promote your own agenda. It's almost as if you find joy in the destruction of homes and lives. Not every believer thinks that Pat Roberston is right. Not every believer hates the individual. I'm sorry you feel as if you have to use these occurances to hurt others.

I do find peace in the fact that out of over 1200 people on campus that night that no one was taken from the Union family. It's clear that God allows things to happen, But it's even more clear that God is Soveriegn in his protection. My prayers are with all of you.

What?

"Think of this next time Pat Robertson and others like him start shrieking that God will bring natural disasters to the vilest sinners. "

It's amazing how some people have so much hatred in their hearts that they will use something like this to take a punch at someone that has nothing to do with any of it.

Paul Price - you need help psychologically and, more importantly, spiritually.

Our sympathies...

Union students, staff, and faculty: Know that staff and students from campuses across the country have heard what happened to your community, and we share in both your grief and in the joy that there was no loss of life. You're in our thoughts and prayers, and I hope that this disaster draws your campus community together in new ways and makes it stronger than ever before.

Praise God for His protection !

My prayers are with you !

I had never heard of your school. I heard the testimonies of your students on the Today show and wondered if it was a Christian college. I looked it up on the internet and I was right.

May God use you as you get a lot of media coverage. He already has.

I hope that this country sees that this nation does need God. Yes, bad things do happen to good people also but in this case I believe that His protection was over all of you so that you will give Him the glory.

He honors those who honor Him. This will put you on the map and magazines. I pray that the nation will hear your wonderful testimonies.

Praying for the injured to be healed.

Jackson, TN Tornado

God in His mercy will come to the aid of the residents of Jackson.

My mother attended Union University in 1917 and I have visited there.

I pray for your courage to face what has happend, knowing that there are those who also pray for healing, grieve with you and mourn your loss.

Storm damage

I was raised in Jackson and met my wife at Union when the old campus was in East Jackson. It is a wonderful university and doesn't deserve this tragic event. However, I am confident that the faculty, students and administration will rise to the challenge of rebuilding a future that is based on their faith in God and their love for one another. Union University will continue to be a place that honors Jesus Christ and prepares students to make this world a better place to live.

May God bless and keep you, comfort you and uphold you in the palm of his hand.

Former UU Student

Being a former student of Union University, my heart goes out to each and everyone of the students, their families, as well as the faculty and staff.

Union is unique. Everyone worked together and is continuing to do so now, even in the devastation left by the storms.

God is good all of the time.

Blessed be His name, in the good times and the bad.

Union University students, faculty, and Staff our thoughts and prayers are with you.

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Proverbs 3:5-6

CourageousChristiansUnited.Org

Union University

I want to let everyone know I am praising God for watching over each student, faculty member and staff member at Union. You see my son is a student of Union and was on campus Tuesday when the storm with thru the campus. He is home safely and I will continue to praise God that everyone is safe and it is by HIS LOVING GRACE, no one was badly hurt. Buildings can be rebiult and new cars can be purchased.

I have heard the testimonies that students and faculty gave on national TV, and I do believe that this is all for God's glory, if in on one elses lives but my son and myself.

Union University will be rebuilt and be better than ever.

Thank you to all the RA's and faculty and staff at Union, and to all the emergency workers that helped the students Tuesday night.

BEST WISHES!

As a college professor, my heart goes out to all who work at Union and to your students (as well as to the others who suffered from the tornadoes this week!) Thank God no there was killed. Best wishes are you re-build and continue your work.

Paul Price, Are you so concerned about what others think that you can worry about something as trivial as Disney World being spared damage of this magntitude but look down on Baptist schools and churches? I, along with my entire family and church family, praise God that none of our youth who attend Union were hurt. My sister is currently attending Union and let me tell you, to me her life is worth more than a brick building to house classes in. I feel for those students that have nowhere to go and nothing left but the close they had on that night. Instead of looking down on the "self-righteous" why not show some concern for the families that lost everything and only have each other. I guarnatee you that they are not worried about the hows or why's of God hitting Union and not hitting Disney World. Until you know why God allowed this to happen to HIS people don't say the vilest sinners brought this on. We are all sinners but God gave the ultimate gift.

Atheist in solidarity

I am relieved to hear that there were no life-threatening injuries at UU. Best of luck in the rebuilding of your school.

Tornado at Union University

I attended Union University in 1961 and was surprised and saddened to hear about all the devastation on campus. I join many others in praising God for His protection and providence. I had just read about an 11 month old baby who was found alive in a field where his mother was found dead. It reminded me of how I used to strap my baby around me when there was a tornado warning...if that mother had done the same, her baby might have met the same fate as she did. None of us, including Pat Robertson, can explain why some are spared and some are lost, but all of us should be ready to meet God on a moment's notice. "Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last."

My daughter and son attended Union. When I heard that a university in TN was hit, my thoughts immediately went to Union. Praise God that known were seriously hurt. My daughter was there in '02 when

the tornado went through. My thoughts and prayers go out to Pres.

Dockery, faculty, and everyone else there. May the name of the LORD

be praised! Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

My heart is with Union, it's students, faculty and staff. I was an RA at Union during the 2002/2003 tornados and I thought we had been hit bad then. The damage this time was 10 times worse. It saddens me to see the campus in such ruin. I'm just thankful noone was killed. Everyone is in my thoughts

P. Price,

This is not the place for a rant about your frustration at the opinions of SOME Christians. Why don't you try waiting for a time when people AREN'T injured and a campus ISN'T destroyed. Besides, the message you are refering to wasn't what was taught at Union. They taught that blessings fall on the just and unjust, however that is defined.

I can only imagine

My wife's best friend is an aunt of one of the young men affected by this tragedy. It is hard to imagine. One thing is certain, God does not waste anything good or bad. He works all things for the good of those who love Him... in His time. May the peace that transcends understanding guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, and may He use this tragedy through you for His glory. The fury of a tornado is still nothing compared with the spiritual warfare devoted Christians encounter daily. Just imagine the still small voice after the winds, earthquakes, and every other thing that rattles us. God is still in control of it all. We are not to try to understand, but simply to trust Him. That is my prayer for you all.

To Paul Price of OK who said, "Think of this next time Pat Robertson and others like him start shrieking that God will bring natural disasters to the vilest sinners" ... hey, I don't like what Robertson said, either, and don't agree with it at all, but can't you wait a few days to start in with the venom? Don't you have better things to do?

I wonder why you didn't also find it interesting that despite all of the incredible damage -- including destroyed dorms -- out of 1,800 students on campus at the time, none were killed? Hmm? God's hand at work, or cooincidence? You see how silly this debate is? I recommend you shut up and go troll somewhere else while the people in our states hit by the storms try to pick things up and get back to normal. They don't need your attitude and would be thankful if you'd keep that opinion of yours strictly to yourself.

Moderator, if you take his post down feel free to take mine down, I'm just trying to counter his thoughtlessness. My thoughts AND prayers are with the people everywhere who've been affected by these storms.

My friend David was trapped for four hours 10 feet under the rubble of a building before being rescued. He is in critical condition, and no one knows whether or not if he will survive. The doctors are being cautiously optimistic, however.

I am praying for him, him friends, his family, and for the other victims, friends, and families of this tragedy. God has already worked many miracles for David in his recovery, and I pray the same for everyone else affected by this.

Please keep David and all those hurt, physically, mentally, and emotionally, in your prayers.

Amen on the Pat Robertson article someone wrote. Seems if they think that destruction is brought on to those that are sinners and not living right. Guess someone tore the book of Job out of there Bible huh. My prayers are with the University. My Pastor and his wife's daughter goes to Union University. Looking at all the photos you just can't help from believing that God spared many lives for a reason. When you have the kind of destruction that was at this University and not a single person lost there life you know with out a doubt that something good is going on there.

My son is a student at Union University and is also an RA at the college. He was one of those students who was asked to appear on several national news stations to report his recollections of the devastation that those 1200 students endured. I am so proud of him in that he gives God all the glory for protecting each individual involved and that he was able to express that the glory of God was surrounding that campus on that Tuesday night. I continue to keep all in my thoughts and prayers,

Sister goes to Union University

My sister goes to Union University and just moved out of the dorms this semester. She JUST got all of her stuff from the dorm to the new appartment not that long ago. If she had stayed in the dorms she would have lost everything, the God that she had moved. My heart and prayers go out to her old roomates and friends who did lose their dorms.

My family and I thank God that my sister was safe and thank Him that no one on the campus was seriously injured. It is a miracle that with all the distruction there were no deaths. God protects his children!

Gracias a Dios están todos bien, los daños materiales se recuperan tarde o temprano.

Nuestra familia en Ecuador estamos felices que mi hermano Mario y su familia estén sanos y salvos y que no haya habido lesiones graves en los estudiantes.

Tengan fé y suerte con la reconstrucción de la universidad.

What type of aid is needed by the students at this time? With such a manage disaster on a campus, it is hard to know what is needed the most. Prayers are with you all.

We'll sing of Your love forever!

Its just so crazy! This campus has always been there and now its all gone! The dorm that my mother lived is gone! All we can do is thank God for His amazing grace! His hand was upon the shoulder of every student and member of faculty that was affected!!!

UU is in my prayers!!

Find somewhere else.

Wow Paul,

The only thing I can think of to say to your comment is this:

There is a time and a place for everything and this is neither the time or the place. Find somewhere else to spew your hate while these innocent students try to put their lives back together and heal while worshiping in whatever way they choose. Let's instead focus on helping these young people get back on track to their education.

Union University

For those who accuse me of having a poor attitude and take offense at my post; might I respectfully suggest you go back and read it again? ALL OF IT again? You conveniently ignored the third paragraph I think.

Oh, this is not a religious publication and IS a place for OPINION. I respect your right to offer opinions. Please respect mine. Although it may be in danger, America still offers free speech, ie, the right to an opinion.

And AGAIN... my prayers go for the injured and their friends and families.

Responses to my opinion emphasize how rabid "some" people get when they hear an opinion contrary to theirs. Someone even sort of 'suggested' that my post be removed. Care to burn some books like some fascist governments have done while you're at it?

No but I WOULD care to meet you on the campus of Union - of course not you have no guts only weak faceless comments on a computer. You have no real opinion of your own or you would not have tp respond to Pat's comments - talk about someone getting rabit quickly - get a live if you don't agree with him way call names? It's because you're a wimp. Maybe the next twister will come your wal...

"Think of this next time Pat Robertson and others like him start shrieking that God will bring natural disasters to the vilest sinners. -Responses to my opinion emphasize how rabid "some" people get when they hear an opinion contrary to theirs. Someone even sort of 'suggested' that my post be removed. Care to burn some books like some fascist governments have done while you're at it?"

Gee, seems like you're the only one getting rabid about someone with a differing opinion.

By the way, care to meet at Union's campus? Of course not you're merely MERELY a faceless gutless nothing with no life except for your computer, what a wimp. Those kids are blessed to be alive you jerk. If you got some weak response and want to meet face to face(I'm NOT hilding my breath) JUST NAME IT!

in response to the first comment

Job 2:11 says, "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"

God is good in everything He does, and we cannot begin to understand it. We should just be thankful He's given breath and life and many other good things to us.

Paul, that ain't free speech, guy ...

Paul said: "For those who accuse me of having a poor attitude and take offense at my post ..."

Hey Paul, here's a thought: why don't you go post your troll-drivel somewhere that's actually discussing Pat Robertson!? You brought it up, and nobody here cares about that subject (well, maybe the one guy who said, "Amen" -- maybe you two could hook up?).

If anyone here really did want to discuss this you'd be getting real feedback, something besides, "Shut yer yap." I'd also bet that nobody here agrees with what Robertson said concerning that subject in the first place, so it's not like you're going to launch a vigorous debate; they're just here discussing what happened at UNION. So what's the point of yelling "fire" in a crowded theater, eh? Lonely?

Paul said, "Although it may be in danger, America still offers free speech, ie, the right to an opinion."

Paul, your politics are showing, better tuck in; and you didn't pay very good attention in history class, did you?

"Free speech", the common name for the 1st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, has nothing to do with any blog or your "right to your opinion" or anything else related to this particular discussion. All "free speech" really means is that the U.S. GOVERNMENT cannot punish or imprison you for, or stop you from, saying/writing/expressing things. This amendment was intended to keep the gov't from harrassing the citizens and press. It was not intended to give you a license to offend people on a private message board. Dig?

I'll make it simpler for you; the mag IS called U.S. News <grin>, but does the United States Gov't run this blog? See any Federal Agents around here? Didn't think so. You see, your post, or mine, can be removed at the whim of the moderator; I just didn't want mine to stick around -- completely without context -- if yours were removed. That's all. Look right below the "Submit" button: "All comments are moderated ..."

So, before the bell rings let's see if we learned anything today, Paul: if your inflammatory post WERE removed from this blog, would that an example of infringing on your "free speech" rights? You get a cookie if you can answer that question correctly based on the information in the above two paragraphs, without resorting to utterly weak "book burning" agitprop.

Sigh. Why do people, even public personalities (perhaps especially public personalities), open mouth and insert foot about something they know is patently offensive, then get called to the carpet for it, and then loudly plead, "Free speech! Free speech! I've got Free Speech!" Nothing shows real ignorance quicker, in my opinion, than taking that route. But some folks must believe it, because it keeps happening.

Finally, Paul, saying you pray for the victims and families after interjecting this Pat Robertson slop -- as the first post, no less -- is rich indeed. You obviously have a major chip on your shoulder about Pat Robertson's statement, which is cool, but you want to stir it up here, after something bad happens like this, which is not cool. This is what the UTM student above meant when he or she said, "There is a time and a place ..."

My advice? Take it somewhere else -- go somewhere else to play. I promise you there are a practically limitless number of people who would love to discuss this subject with you if you'll just look for and find them. Good luck. Oh, and tell a couple of your friends what you learned about free speech, and hopefully they'll tell two friends, and so on, and so on ...

How many of us sat in church services and either heard from the pulpit or from other members that "God destroyed New Orleans"? How many of us somewhere deep inside blindedly accepted it a little?

I'm not here to argue about God's selective wrath,but I do know the world needs more understanding and compassion from those who follow God's Word. Especially toward those people and concepts who are foreign to us.

As a '93 Union Grad, big fan of New Orleans and a person deeply rooted in his faith, I prefer not to let Pat Robertson speak for or represent me. Let's make sure the folks out there hear and see the love, grace and compassion of Christ.

We have a tendency of "keeping the non-christians down" in some of our denominations and I can totally understand why someone would use this oportunity to take some shots as us. We often do the same thing when we are in the majority.