Brewton-Parker College Offers Assistance to Flood Victims

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Brewton-Parker volunteers, along with a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team led by John Sikes, came together to assist flood victims during Labor Day weekend. BPC/Special Brewton-Parker volunteers, along with a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief team led by John Sikes, came together to assist flood victims during Labor Day weekend. BPC/Special

By Amanda Corbin

MOUNT VERNON — Five Brewton-Parker College students, one faculty member, and four family members, headed out Sept. 2 to Baton Rouge, LA to offer assistance to flood victims.

Volunteers on the trip were Devin Frails, MaShawn Knight, Karrey Mondeseir, Austin Pounds, Nate Pristavec, Assistant Professor of Theology and Director of Community and Church Relations Billy Puckett, Katy Puckett, Jack Puckett, William Puckett, and Zoe Pristavec.

“We left early Friday morning, Labor Day weekend, as Hurricane Hermine arrived at Brewton-Parker,” Puckett said. “Our goal was to serve and support the people of southeast Louisiana who were devastated by the recent flooding. Our Lord granted us success and we were able to work alongside four wonderful families and help remediate four severely damaged homes.”

According to Puckett, the team worked diligently, tearing out soaked sheetrock and insulation and carrying the debris to the street. “Disaster relief ministry is not for the faint of heart, but our BPC students rose to the occasion, not only doing physical labor, but also addressing the vital spiritual work that is needed when serving people who find themselves devastated and in despair,” he said. Puckett explained the students hugged, encouraged, prayed for, and shared the good news about Jesus Christ with the families they served and with others that the Lord had appointed to hear the gospel over the Labor Day weekend.

Nate Pristavec, standing, and William Puckett remove sheetrock and insulation ruined by flood waters. BPC/Special Nate Pristavec, standing, and William Puckett remove sheetrock and insulation ruined by flood waters. BPC/Special

Partner with SBC Disaster Relief

“At the end of each workday the students were tired and looking forward to a good meal, shower, and a place to lay their head,” Puckett commented. “The Brewton-Parker team is immensely grateful for the ministry and hospitality of our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief response, the third largest, and maybe most effective, disaster response volunteer organization in the world. Because of the ministry of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief our students were able to focus all of their energy assisting people who were in need.”

“Gloria Peterson is one of those who suffered loss in the floods,” Puckett stated.  “She is a recent widow who had lost almost everything that she and her husband had accumulated over the past 70 years.” Because Puckett and his family had suffered the loss of most of their earthly things during Hurricane Katrina, he was able to empathize with Peterson and testify that God is able to strengthen and restore those that are devastated by the storms of life.

“Our Lord's hand was with us and we were blessed to participate in this mission trip,” Puckett concluded. “We safely returned home late Monday, Labor Day evening, physically tired but spiritually encouraged. We continue to pray for the flood victims of southeast Louisiana and we believe with confidence that they will experience restoration because our Lord cares for them and is sending his church to serve and proclaim that our God saves!”

More mission trip photos can be found at www.facebook.com/brewtonparker.

Brewton-Parker, flooding, hurricane, Louisiana, SBC Disaster Relief