The small town of Hattiesburg, Mississippi suffered through a devastating level EF-3 tornado. With wind speeds of up to 165 miles per hour, both property and lives were shattered.
Over 15 miles of damage were left in the tornado’s wake; office buildings, schools and churches were completely leveled.
(Photo: Source: Twitter--William Carey University )
The campus of William Carey University was devastated; rooftops were torn apart, classrooms were left in shreds and sadly, even a place of spiritual refuge, Bass Chapel, was decimated.
The chapel was left in ruins--glass, bricks and debris at every turn.
(Photo: Source: Region 8 News)
Yet, when university staff went in to survey the damage they saw the unimaginable: the holy bible, left unscathed.
Dr. Tommy King, president of the university, shared, “We had extensive damage to every building on campus...we had extensive damage to our beautiful Bass Chapel, but the bible on the pulpit is left undisturbed.”
Through the chaos, winds and torment, the bible remained protected.
Dr. King shared, “The Bible was open to Psalm 46, ‘God is our refuge and strength in times of trouble.’”
The Psalm continues, “Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, and the mountains quake with their surging.”
Indeed, through devastation, confusion, ruin and tragedy, there is always refuge to be found in the Bible.