NOBTS has been very special to our family over the past five years. It has been the focal point of the life of our older son, and the reason he and his family moved so far away from "home". A year ago I had the privilege to have been elected to the Seminary Board of Trustees and it has been a joy to serve this wonderful "School of Providence and Prayer". We have our semi annual Trustee meeting this week and I will be leaving for that meeting in a few hours. I look forward to doing the business that is entrusted to us, and to the special time of prayer and fellowship with the other trustees and with the wonderful administration, faculty, and staff of the Seminary.
Dr. Chuck Kelley has served the Seminary as President for just over 10 years. Besides being a great academic leader, Dr. Kelley is an evangelist at heart. He and his wife, Dr. Rhonda Kelley are dear folks who love New Orleans and the young people who come to that Seminary to train for ministry, evangelism, and missions. Rhonda is the daughter of Rev. Bob Harrington who was well known for many years in New Orleans as "The Chaplain of Bourbon Street". Chuck is a graduate of the Seminary and served for many years as a professor of evangelism. Their roots go deep in the Crescent City.
It was truly through the Providence of God that Dr. Kelley was there to lead the Seminary family through the worst natural disaster to ever strike the United States - Hurricane Katrina. Two years have passed since the hurricane struck and several levees were breached sending 80 percent of the city under water for days. The Seminary family took losses that would do most of us in. There was some question as to whether the Seminary should even try to reopen or possibly relocate to another city. But through strong faith in God, the leadership of Dr. Kelley and his staff, and an outpouring of help from Southern Baptists all around the country, a modern miracle has taken place on Gentilly Boulevard.
The Seminary hosted a "Homecoming" celebration last week to thank God for his provision. Everyone who has been part of the Seminary family along with the many who helped in it's restoration and recovery were invited to come and celebrate what God has done. I wasn't able to attend the Homecoming since I am going to be there this week, but I read with interest Joe McKeever's blog about it. (www.joemckeever.com ) Here is part of what Joe writes, regarding the special service held in Leavell Chapel:
"After testimonies from students and professors on the Lord's care for them and their families through the Katrina tragedy, Dr. Kelley went into detail about the Father's watch care over both the campus and the seminary family. He called attention to a handout with facts seminary-lovers will want to know.
During and after Hurricane Katrina's storm and flooding....
80 percent of the city was underwater.
Seminary students were scattered to 29 states.
Faculty and staff evacuated to 12 states.
The Georgia Baptist Convention put 300 seminary families in housing.
The seminary campus itself sustained some $60 million in damages, most of it due to the flood waters which saturated the homes and buildings for many days.
Most of the campus housing was under 3 to 5 feet of water for 2 to 3
weeks.
45 percent of all student housing was flooded, resulting in almost total
loss for those families.
92 student apartments were demolished afterward.
All the faculty houses were flooded.
Administrative offices were relocated to Atlanta from September '05 through April '06.
Over 1,000 students from the main campus were contacted by the Student Life Office after the hurricane, to find out what needs they had and help them stay "in class" through the internet.
Over 400 refrigerators on campus were destroyed.
Over 150 automobiles were destroyed.
Campus recreation facilities and equipment were unusable.
400 National Guardsmen set up their base camp on the campus.
100 NY Highway Patrolmen stayed in campus facilities.
No class programs were eliminated as a result of Katrina. (No other
institution of higher learning in the New Orleans area can make this
claim.)
The seminary was the only institution of higher learning in this area not to lay off a single faculty member.
Over 3/4 of our students continued to take classes, most over the
internet.
2500 students enrolled following Katrina, which was 25 percent below the previous year's enrollment.
The SBC Executive Committee gave the seminary $6.2 million for recovery efforts.
The International Mission Board donated $1.2 million.
The Florida Baptist Convention donated cash and gift cards to distribute to seminary families.
Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana state conventions sent significant
donations.
More than 3,000 volunteers completed the equivalent of more than $3 million in labor.
60 acres of sod was laid on the campus.
All campus landscaping was replaced.
SBC disaster relief teams and church volunteers have been in New Orleans continuously since the hurricane, over 2 years ago.
Volunteers from churches and other SBC entities, too vast in numbers to keep track of, have given time, materials, and money toward the recovery of this seminary, our churches, and our city.
Dr. Kelley said, "Our favorite scripture comes from the 43rd chapter of
Isaiah." He read the opening verses.
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they will not overflow you.When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched,Nor will the flame burn you.For I am
the Lord your God."
The campus has been beautifully restored and the Seminary family has been actively involved in working to help their neighbors recover from their losses. Many acts of kindess and compassion to others have helped open doors of evangelism in New Orleans that have never been opened before. I'll be spending the next 4 days in the presence of a modern miracle.
Oh yes. I'll also get to spend a couple of evenings with two of my grandsons! Not bad duty...
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