MCKENZIE, Tenn. -Hours after returning from their season opening road game at Delta State in Cleveland, Mississippi the Bethel Wildcat football team loaded on buses provided by Anchor Transportation and traveled to Waverly, Tennessee Friday morning to aid those in need after the recent catastrophic flooding in that city, Humphreys County and the surrounding area.
Several Bethel team members and former Wildcats had families affected by the flood, so the effort was even made more personal for the football squad.
Another theme of the event was Isaiah 6:8 “Here I am Send Me” as led by Bethel Associate Chaplain Garrett Burns.
Bethel Senior Associate Athletic Director Brad Chappell commented on the effort. “From the time we heard about the tragedy in Waverly our coaches and players have been inquiring how we could mobilize to help. It became of utmost importance when we learned that several of our current and former Wildcat family were impacted as well. Our friends at Anchor Transportation and MMI Dining have been crucial to pulling this together as well. Some of our student-athletes gathered supplies that we could donate and of course our football team was adamant about getting “Boots on the Ground”. Our Associate Chaplain Garrett Burns has been instrumental in facilitating contact with FEMA and the sheriff’s office. When members of our family hurt …we hurt. To be able to help in any fashion helps begin the healing process. There is still lots to be done but hopefully our efforts have provided some comfort for those in the path of the flood.”
Chappell summed up his thoughts on the effort. “Our young men played a game last night, rode four hours back to campus, took a nap, got some breakfast this morning and headed to Waverly for a day of doing whatever is necessary for the flood victims. We are proud of each of them, Coach Jasper, his staff and all those who were a part of this effort.”
Jared Stancil, the VP/COO of Anchor expressed his gratitude to be a part of the day. “Thank you for allowing Anchor Transportation to be a part of your efforts to help in Waverly. One of the core values of our company is: To Serve Others. It’s deeply gratifying for us knowing that our partnership with Bethel University is making a difference in our Middle Tennessee communities. God Bless Bethel, Waverly and our prayers are still going out for those families impacted in Waverly and the mid-state area.”
Head Coach Michael Jasper said, “Our chaplains have set a theme for this year, “Here I Am Send Me” from Isaiah 6:8. Today we had the opportunity to get off campus and be a blessing to those in need, putting our theme into action. The tragedy and loss felt in Waverly hit close to home for our program. I as well as the kids felt we had to go and help. I can’t thank Chaplain Garrett Burns, Brad Chappell, and Jev Windham enough for helping coordinate our efforts. They were able to link us with the First Baptist Church in Waverly where there is a tremendous headquarters for disaster relief. They prayed over us and then quickly got us out to several sites to get to work. I must thank our transportation partners, Anchor Transport for donating buses and drivers, MMI dining for packing snacks and lunches, and the entire Bethel faculty for supporting our efforts by allowing our guys to make up assignments. It was a blessing to be a blessing to those in need.”
Adding to the team effort were Coach Starla Cupples and her volleyball squad along with Coach John Weeks and his softball squad donating supplies and food which were delivered by the football team.
Being a member of the NAIA, Bethel stresses the NAIA Champions of Character Initiative each year to student athletes and staff at the school. One of the five core values of the COC is “Servant Leadership” and this was certainly prevalent today.