BCMs from UA, LSU set rivalry aside; partner following historic flooding in Louisiana

BCMs from UA, LSU set rivalry aside; partner following historic flooding in Louisiana

When deadly tornadoes ripped through Tuscaloosa in April 2011, students from Baptist Campus Ministries (BCM) at Louisiana State University (LSU) tossed their long-standing rivalry with the University of Alabama (UA) aside and responded to the city’s need for assistance. 

And UA BCM has responded in kind. 

Following the catastrophic flooding across Louisiana, UA BCM was able to participate with several disaster relief (DR) teams and other groups from national organizations such as the American Red Cross to help families and begin the process of restoring the city.

Assisted 9 families

At the request of LSU BCM and Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) director of the office of collegiate and student ministries Mike Nuss, UA campus ministers Nate Young and Kim Andrews and 33 students left Tuscaloosa on Aug. 26 and drove to Baton Rouge to meet and work with LSU BCM. 

Young said the UA BCM “wanted to provide the same support” for LSU that they had shown UA just a few years earlier.

The team served nine families by removing debris, drywall, Sheetrock, insulation, cabinetry and plumbing from affected areas of homes in order to set up for repair. Several students also applied AfterShock, a mold-killing solution.

Included in the families was an LSU student affected by the flood, who also is trained for DR chainsaw and mud out teams and has spent several college breaks helping others in these situations.

“His family and extended family faced extensive damage to their homes and property and it was a blessing to us to be able to help his family begin the process of recovery,” Andrews said.

Far-reaching ministry

The cost of UA BCM’s DR assistance was covered by funds provided through the Cooperative Program and local church support. For instance North River Church, Tuscaloosa, sponsored the group’s gas for traveling.

Young said, “I also really enjoyed helping UA students see how far-reaching SBC ministry goes.”