20120918_oral_roberts_university_students_work_with_samaritans_purse_to_aid_fire_victims
Oral Roberts University Students Work With Samaritan’s Purse To Aid Fire Victims
A recent wildfire in Drumright, Okla. destroyed at least 65 homes and 58,000 acres in Creek County. The Oral Roberts University Outreach Program was quick to respond by partnering with Samaritan’s Purse and organizing student volunteers to aid the victims.
“We send out teams of students all over the world, but when a disaster like this happens
so close to ORU, we will do whatever we can to provide hope and support,” said ORU
Director of Missions and Outreach Bobby Parks.
A group of close to seventy ORU students was assembled and transported to the home
of Janet and Bob Brittenham whose trailer and several storage sheds containing personal
belongings were destroyed during the fire. Upon meeting the Brittenham’s students
were asked to look for a metal turtle containing valuable rings amongst the rubble.
After hours of searching the turtle had not been recovered and a bull dozer, which
would have ended any chance of finding it, was only minutes away. “We had a minute
or two left and I prayed for someone, anyone, to find it. I finished praying and after
pulling and tossing I found something that looked worthwhile; Bam! It was the turtle,”
said ORU Senior Paul Kamara.
After students were transported back to the ORU campus reactions to the work completed
were universally positive. “It was an incredible experience to get to help with the
wildfire relief especially being from Colorado, where our state was so devastated
by fires,” said ORU Senior Seth Silvers. “I was so encouraged to be able to help people
who have lost everything to find hope in the midst of it all.”
The Community Outreach program at ORU encourages students to reach out to hurting
people in the Tulsa area, and to bring them the gospel. This year they are partnering
with 20 organizations through-out the Tulsa area. Outreaches range from building homes
with Habitat for Humanity to providing medical assistance with Good Samaritan Mobile
Medical Clinic.
The above news story was written by ORU student Jessica Sherwood.