NOBTS Update

this came from Bob Burroughs:

NEW ORLEANS BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

The latest news, as of Friday, September 2, is this: New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary is under about 8 feet of water. There is concern that looters will come in to ransack and destroy what is left of the campus. Security chained off the campus as best they could and were airlifted out to safety. The administrative team has moved to the Seminary extension in Atlanta, GA. At this writing, there will probably be no classes held on the New Orleans campus for the entire semester and probably for the school year. This probably means no teaching for the faculty for at least a year Ðand this is in addition to them losing their homes and personal items. As you probably know from the news reports, levees failed and there is widespread flooding across most of the city. The breach of one of the levees is some three city blocks in length, and is only a mile or so from the campus. The chapel, administration buildings and all other buildings sustained heavy damage and may be beyond repair. All office equipment, files, and personal effects of the faculty and administration are mostly gone. Many of the trees on campus were lost even before the flooding.

BENJIE HARLAN, who just this semester, moved to NOBTS to teach, is safe and sound. In a phone conversation, he said he and his family claimed Psalm 46 as they sat together and prayed. Listen to and take refuge in these words: verses 1-6:

God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble. And so we need not fear, even if the world blows up, and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam; let the mountains tremble. There is a river of joy flowing through the City of our God, the sacred home of the God above all gods. God himself is living in that city; therefore, it stands unmoved despite the turmoil everywhere. He will not delay his help. The nations rant and rave in anger, but when God speaks, the earth melts in submission and the kingdoms totter into ruin!

FBC, Gulfport, MS, which sits right on the beach front, actually imploded during Katrina, and it is totally gone. MMEMail is sure other churches or all denominations have been severely damaged, but this is the only one that has been confirmed to MMEMail.