May 12, 2003
Tornadoes damage churches, university
___Baptist churches in Missouri and Tennessee received extensive damage from tornadoes last week, and buildings at William Jewell College in Missouri were heavily damaged.
___Early reports from the Kansas City, Springfield and Camden County areas of Missouri confirmed at least one church was completely destroyed by the storms. Buffalo Prairie Baptist Church in Lamine Baptist Association has been declared a total loss, with most of the roof gone and structural damage to several walls.
___Unconfirmed reports indicated that First Baptist Church in Pierce City also may have been destroyed. The historic downtown of Pierce City was almost a total loss.
___A May 4 tornado left behind $15 million to $20 million in damage at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. Despite heavy property loss, no one was injured.
___"It is unbelievable as much damage as there is that there were no injuries," explained Mark Van Tilburg, director of college relations. "It's an amazing blessing that we got away without any injuries."
___The campus had received "a fair amount of warning" to get organized before severe weather struck at around 5 p.m. Sunday, he said. "All students were able to get to basements."
___William Jewell lost the steeple from Gano Chapel, which had been added less than two years ago. Dorms, particularly married student housing, were hard hit. Tilburg said that because the married student dorm sustained substantial structural damage, it probably will not be used again.
___Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City escaped damage, according to a statement released Monday. Only some downed tree limbs littered the yard around the Vivion Farm Home on campus.
___Central Baptist Theological Seminary in nearby Kansas City, Kan., also escaped major damage, according to president Tom Clifton.
___At William Jewell, administrators cancelled all final exams scheduled for May 5-9 and sent students home. Commencement was to take place as scheduled Saturday, May 10.
___At least two Tennessee Baptist churches reported damage from tornadoes the same day. Hillcrest Baptist Church in Jackson lost its steeple and roof, and Adams Chapel Baptist Church of Dresden reported damage to its education building.
___Jackson, Tenn., was among the hardest-hit cities. The twisters slammed into downtown and south Jackson, leaving the area in ruins. Students at Baptist-affiliated Union University, who underwent a similar experience last November, huddled in bathrooms and closets, but the tornadoes missed the campus.
___University President David Dockery said no students were injured but the campus sustained moderate damage. "We give thanks to God that no one was hurt," Dockery said. "We have many broken windows and much water damage but the extent of the damage to the campus, thank goodness, is quite limited."
___Compiled from Associated Baptist Press reports
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