SCOTT DEPOT, WV —Did God send “Hurricane Charley” to punish the people of Florida or to extract some measure of revenge because of their sins? Believe it or not, there are those who always see in such disasters the hand of a sinister kind of God who delights in inflicting punishment upon helpless people.

I sent a story about the destruction to Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, Florida, a Christian liberal arts college of 1100 students, to one of the nation’s outstanding editors. He is a writer of books and award-winning editorials. He may be seen on national television discussing some of the most pressing problems of our day. He knows how to ask thought-provoking questions and fully engage his readers.

Jim sent this brief e-mail to me. “Bill—Why do you suppose God sent the hurricane to wallop this Christian college?” My answer was shorter. “Jim—Matthew 5:45”. If he did not know the verse from memory and his study of the Bible he probably looked it up and read: “For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust, too” (NLT).

One of the popular books of recent years is titled, “Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?” There have been other similar titles that deal with the age-old problem of good and evil, love and justice, freedom and punishment, heaven and hell, holiness and sinfulness.

This beautiful campus, which was due to come alive with new and returning students on August 23, was so severely damaged that administrators are now looking to September 20 as the date for classes to begin. Two smaller dormitories were demolished. The Turner Athletic Center, where collegiate basketball games are played and physical education classes taught, was severely damaged. The Rigel Center, housing student administrative offices, the admissions complex, classrooms and eating facilities suffered heavy loss.

The city and campus both lost electrical power, phone services, had a water shortage and did not anticipate a return to normalcy for 7-14 days. There was damage all across the 350-acre campus. Cleaning crews are working hard.

Florida suffered considerable damage. In the southwestern part of the state the devastation exceeded belief. Thousands of people were homeless, houses totally destroyed. Injury and death came in overwhelming degrees. Disease and illness follows. Patience grows thin. Discouragement sets in. Tempers flare. Some feel like giving up.

During difficult times churches, the Red Cross, Samaritan’s Purse, the Salvation Army and dozens of other relief agencies rise to the occasion. Volunteers by the thousands are eager to help rebuild, bind up wounds, feed the hungry, replace lost clothing, provide shelter, clean up the debris.

President George Bush, a man whose heart is touched by suffering and whose spiritual depth prompts him to do all he can to alleviate human misery, arrived immediately to offer the full services of the federal government to meet emergency and long-term needs.

When disaster comes by floods, fires, terrorists, tornadoes, or hurricanes, the people of America respond to the needs of fellow citizens. We always build back because God has planted in our hearts a desire to express love and goodness in every possible way.

Problems come to all of us—the just and the unjust. We must never blame God for our problems, but we can always thank Him for His blessings.

As a member of the Board of Trustees of Warner Southern College I can assure you that all help will be deeply appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. To build back we will need monetary gifts beyond what insurance will pay. You may make your checks payable to the College and send them to President Greg Hall, Warner Southern College, 13895 Highway 27, Lake Wales, FL 33859-8797. You may also e-mail me: or call 304-757-6089 for updates and ways in which you can assist in a time of need.

Where was God when all this havoc took place? He was where He has always been. I find comfort and strength in these words from an ancient psalm: “You make winds your messengers, fire and flame your ministers” (Psalm 104:4 NRSV). Wherever disaster strikes and in whatever form, we can see the hand of God at work for good through His saints and all people of good will.