What Sager Brown Means to Me
Contributions From Volunteers
What UMCOR Sager Brown Means to MeFormer Student: "Love, Faith, Training"Mission: Part of the TraditionOut of the Eye of the Storm"When the Earth Rocks, UMCOR Rolls"
Contributions From Recipient
What UMCOR Sager Brown Means to Me
Much fellowship and many friendships develop between our volunteers at UMCOR Sager Brown. Recently, Floridian Miss Helen realized a life-long dream to take a motorcycle ride with the help of Mr. Don from Texas. Miss Helen, our new "motorcycle grand momma," is 92 years young.
Bill Dudleson, Baldwin, LA
Young Aaron from Virginia told me "the work was fun but I really enjoyed the computer room." Here he is with Terry from Indiana moving boxes of school kits in the Depot.
Bill Dudleson, Baldwin, LA
In Septemper 2006 I journeyed to Sager Brown with 8 others from Mabelvale UMC in Little Rock, AR. All my life I have heard about Sager Brown. I have collected pennies in Sunday School, and made kits as a United Methodist Woman. But this was nothing to the feeling I got when I walked into that big warehouse and saw the boxes of Health Kits, Sewing Kits, School Kits and Flood buckets stacked to the ceiling in row after row. I was in awe as I watched truck being load to going out and more truck coming in with new kits to be veried. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN PROUD TO BE A UNITED METHODIST, BUT SO PROUD AS IN THAT MOMENT. Thank you, Sager Brown, you save so many lives.
Betty McConnell, Little Rock, AR
When I traveled to Baldwin in the winter of 2000, little did I know the path that God was paving for me, beginning with assembling health kits and packaging blankets at UMCOR Sager Brown. The mission experience with my new friends from First UMC, Decatur, Ill., was life-changing. I felt the presence of God as we worked to sort and package things for people we would never meet but who were in such great need. I especially remember that Cam and I prepared and shipped blankets for persons affected by the terrible flooding in Mozambique. As I have served God as a pastor's spouse in the local church, in conference staff positions in the Illinois Great Rivers Conference, and now as a consultant for UMCOR, I remember the week at UMCOR Sager Brown and remember our call to obedience to touch the least of God's creatures.
Susan J. Meister, Springfield, IL
Former Student: "Love, Faith, Training"
Some months ago, an elderly gentleman from New Orleans came into the Sager Brown office and asked permission to tour the buildings and grounds. Permission was quickly granted, especially when it was learned that he had been a student here many years ago. As the tour of the facility continued, we walked into Peck Hall, which had originally been built in 1953 as a boys' dormitory. The old gentleman immediately went back in time and began describing where his room had been, the room of his best friend, where the housemother had lived, etc. Then he pointed to the hallway and stated that, "This is where Mama would put you on your knees." When asked why he said, "Well, when you were bad, you were put on your knees until you could be good again." Of course, the question had to be asked, "Were you ever bad?" to which the old man replied, "Honey, I lived on my knees!"
He then continued by saying, that if it had not been for Sager Brown, he would not have become the successful businessman he was (now retired). He further stated that because of the love, faith, training, and education he received at Sager Brown he was saved from a life that otherwise would have seen him in jail or dead at an early age. He stated that because of Sager Brown, he married and raised five children in the church. What a testimony to what Sager Brown was all about!
Mickie Townsend, Baton Rouge, LA.
Mission: Part of the Tradition
One summer day, a woman was driving from Oregon to New Orleans to visit relatives. She had not been to Louisiana in many years, and decided to take the scenic route through Baldwin. As she passed by on the highway, she noticed the Sager Brown sign, which triggered a memory that she had not had in many years. So she decided to stop in for a visit. When asked if she needed help, the woman began to tell her story. It seems that 50 years ago, when she was a small child about 4 years old, she and her family were living under the bridge that joins Baldwin with Franklin, Louisiana. She said that the children of Sager Brown came to them with new clothes that they had made themselves, with warm blankets, and food. The children gave these items to the family living under the bridge. Soon afterward, the family left the area, and it wasn't until the woman drove past the sign that she remembered this event. She said she wanted to find the director who was here 50 years ago so that she could say "thank you" for the help she and her family had been given. Unfortunately, we had no idea who that director was, but we were able to connect the lady with some former students of Sager Brown who still live in Baldwin. She was then able to say "thank you" to them.
The twist to this story is that this was the very Deep South 50 years ago. The children living at Sager Brown were black. The family under the bridge was white. Quite a turn around from the was it usually was back then.
This seemed to be a unique story, until a brother and sister came by one day. They had been students here in the 1970s and this story was told to them. They quickly informed us that all the students at Sager Brown were required each Friday afternoon to go out into the community, find someone in need of help, and then find a way to provide the help needed. What a wonderful mission! The church was providing for these children, but they in turn were providing for others who were also in need. It seems that this tradition has always been a part of Sager Brown and continues to be so today as we provide for the needs of others in times of distress and disaster.
Mickie Townsend, Baton Rouge, LA.
Out of the Eye of the Storm
In 1992 when Sager Brown reopened after Hurricane Andrew, they decided to coin a phrase that would imply how it came into being. The slogan was "OUT OF THE EYE OF THE STORM." In addition, we can say today that Sager Brown was born out of two storms, the first being the Civil War and the second being the Hurricane. However, storms occur in people's lives daily. It may be natural disasters, a family crisis, and loss of loved ones or jobs. But in each instance, we as Christians must reach out in love to these individuals and their communities. And it is only through continued service to others that we are fulfilling the mission call to do the work on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mickie Townsend, Baton Rouge, LA.
"When the Earth Rocks, UMCOR Rolls"
In the summer of 2001, many youth teams came to offer their assistance. A team from Texas arrived with some very energetic kids who worked primarily at the Depot. One young man was so inspired by what he saw and did that he made a sign and put it up at the Depot. The sign said, "thanks for all UMCOR does." Then in bigger letters, he wrote, "When the Earth rocks, UMCOR Rolls." This slogan was quickly picked up on and was emblazoned on one of the t-shirts that is now sold out of the gift shop. Little did we know that on September 11, 2001, the words "Let's Roll" would become so meaningful to our country.
We can be thankful that when our world is "rocked" by whatever means, our church through UMCOR does "roll" to meet the needs.
Mickie Townsend, Baton Rouge, LA.
I extend my tashakurs (thanks) to the entire UMCOR Afghanistan crew. Together we delivered 2,389 education kids to our ASCHIANA girls and boys. ASCHIANA operates schools and three outreach centers in Kabul, where children can attend school. In all three the learning takes place inside big, drafty tents; one tent for girls and one tent for boys. The children sit closely together on plastic tarps on the floor, all eyes on the teacher standing at the front of the tent.
Without the help of UMCOR and the generosity of United Methodists from Western countries, these days of joy would not have been possible. Sepas gozar astom ba shoma-I am grateful to you, all of you. Our Aschiana kids are happy. Man bessyr cashall astom-I am very happy.Praise be to Allah, to God.
Elinor W. Edmunds
ASCHIANA Center, Shar e Nau, Kabul, Afghanistan
