Baylor Family Reaches Goal For Tsunami Relief

Baylor University's Student Government announced on Feb. 7 that the Baylor family has given more than $58,000 to the "Bear the Burden" campaign, which began on Jan. 10.
All donations to the fund - which currently stands at $58,411.13 - will go directly to aid efforts in Asia through Samaritan's Purse International Relief and the Texas Baptist Mission Foundation. The goal for the campaign was $50,000.
Samaritan's Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. Samaritan's Purse is focusing their operations in Sri Lanka and Indonesia with plans to distribute over 1 million water purification packets and 700 plastic tarps for temporary shelter, as well as supporting numerous other relief efforts in over 10 countries.
The Baptist General Convention of Texas is coordinating their relief efforts through the Texas Baptist Mission Foundation. The Texas Baptist Mission Foundation is currently providing relief efforts on the ground in Southeast Asia, and more volunteers are headed that way in upcoming days and weeks.
All Baylor constituencies including students, faculty, staff and alumni have generously taken part in the campaign, student government leaders said. During two student Chapel services on Jan. 12, buckets were passed through the rows, and more than $4,700 was raised. Collins Hall also contributed about $1,000 for "Bear the Burden" during a two-week period. Various academic departments, student organizations, alumni groups and administrators also donated to the campaign.
In addition, the Baptist General Convention of Texas reported Feb. 7 that they have received $3,700 in direct donations from Baylor alumni to the "Bear the Burden" campaign.
Checks will be presented later this week to Samaritan's Purse and to the Texas Baptist Mission Foundation to be used for relief efforts in the affected areas.
Although the official campaign has concluded, Student Government will continue to take donations for "Bear the Burden" until the end of February.

Links to stories involving Baylor and the tsunami relief efforts.

A Jan. 15 story from the Associated Press quoted Dr. Randall O'Brien, chair of Baylor's department of religion, about suffering and faith in tsunami-stricken areas.

Baylor Lariat, Jan. 20: When Kay Mueller was planning a trip to Thailand, she had a gut feeling not to visit the Phuket area. When the tsunami that devastated a large part of the Thai coast hit, she knew there was a reason for her feeling.

People throughout the world have responded in innumerable and generous ways to the horrific earthquake and resultant tsunamis that wielded death and destruction in late December throughout Asian and African nations bordering the Indian Ocean. Pivotal in much of that relief effort is Baylor MBA alumnus Josh Begbie with Crossroads International, a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that performs humanitarian relief work.