Tornadoes and Wildfires Do Not Discriminate

Nature does not discriminate. This week many in our Disciples family have been directly affected by the tornadoes and wildfires that have swept through the Midwest and South. Over the weekend fierce tornadoes sped through several Midwestern states, including Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, affecting many of our Disciples churches and families. In Illinois alone, tornadoes touched down in the communities of Springfield, Jacksonville, Chapin, Winchester, and Lynnville.

Springfield was hit the hardest. Parkway Christian Church in Springfield, IL, has sustained tremendous structural damage. Members will be able to worship in their building this week, thanks to the huge tarps covering their destroyed roof, but the building itself will need to undergo major reconstruction. Out of the 75 families in the congregation, Reverend Dan Krumrei estimates that almost half of them, and maybe more, have been directly affected by the tornado that ripped through Springfield. When asked how he is dealing with so much need, he immediately said, ìWe have all survived. This is merely an inconvenience.î First Christian Church in Springfield, located downtown, did not sustain any damage, but Reverend Rick Irwin and congregation have been reaching out to their sisters and brothers at Parkway Christian Church to offer solidarity and support.

In the Ozark Lakes area of the Mid-America Region, Week of Compassion has responded to many families and churches in southwest Missouri after the tornadoesí wrath. Disciples in Billings, Clever, El Dorado Springs, Merriam Woods, Nixa, Springfield, and Laurie were affected. We have offered solidarity grants to families and community grants to churches and the Ozark Council, an interfaith organization responding to immediate needs after a natural disaster. Dr. Mike Weinman, Area Minister, reports that "As more and more reports come out, [we] are noting that the damage is greater than anyone expected."

In addition to the tornadoes, wildfires continue to move through parts of the south. Because of extremely dry conditions, some of these fires continue to spread through the Texas Panhandle and parts of Oklahoma. In the last four months, almost 3.5 million acres have burned. Week of Compassion has already responded to families from First Christian Church in Duncan, Oklahoma, many of whom have lost their homes. In Texas, the pastor of Central Christian Church in Nacona, Scott Hamilton, has been helping to coordinate the Ministerial Association relief efforts. As of now, he reports that our churches are fine. We will continue to follow up with the Southwest Region and the Area offices to track the effects of these deadly wildfires.

For congregations using the WOC Map/Poster, please visit the WOC website for a summary of this week's responses as well as those for all of 2006. The WOC office would like very much to hear from you as to how you are using the Map/Poster and how it is being received in your congregation.

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