WOC Director Visits Flood-Stricken Kansas

Thursday, July 12, A.D. 2007

According to the poet, April is the cruelest month; according to many Kansans, 2007 may well be the cruelest year – especially in the aftermath of crippling ice storms this past winter, devastating tornadoes in May (including one that destroyed much of the small town of Greensburg), and now summer floods that have brought extensive flooding to the southeastern part of the state and a serious environmental hazard to flood-ravaged Coffeyville.

Week of Compassion Director, Johnny Wray, has just concluded a three-day pastoral visit to several congregations in the South East District of the Christian Church in Kansas, including congregations in Yates Center, Iola, Fredonia, Neodesha, Independence, Chanute, Coffeyville and Erie. WOC has already sent emergency grants totaling $22,500 to six congregations to assist Disciples families affected, support congregational relief efforts in their respective communities and to show support to First Christian Church in Erie, where church facilities were inundated with nearly 3 feet of water.

WOC has also made grants to congregations in flood-stricken parts of Oklahoma and Texas, including Bethany CC, Miami, OK; Mahomet (TX) CC; and Central CC in Hillsboro, TX. Frank Goldsmith, pastor of Koenig Lane CC, Austin is serving as interim chair of the long-term recovery committee in especially hard-hit Marble Falls, TX. WOC is now expecting requests from several congregations to support long-term recovery efforts throughout Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Disciples work groups may well be needed especially in TX and KS, and WOC, in partnership with the Office of Disciples Volunteering, is considering establishing mission stations in southeastern Kansas as long-term recovery work is established. In the meanwhile, designated contributions are much needed and can be made online or sent to WOC, attn: Elaine Cleveland, P.O. Box 1986, Indpls, IN 46206.

Church Partner Responds to Growing Crisis in Palestine

Recent fighting in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank has resulted in further deterioration of an already grave humanitarian crisis for more than 2 million Palestinians. According to relief workers the situation is “dire” and medical supplies are urgently needed. A study from the UK agency, Christian Aid, reports 64% of the population in the West Bank and 78% in Gaza has fallen below the poverty line. A report from the World Food Programme indicates that more than half of all Palestinians face critical food insecurity.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) member and long-time Church World Service partner the Middle East Council of Churches/Department of Service to Palestine Refugees is proposing to respond to the growing crisis by providing supplementary food support and health services to thousands of the most vulnerable families in Gaza and the West Bank. WOC is sending a grant from the Compassion Response Fund to support an ACT/CWS appeal on behalf of MECC/DSPR’s efforts.

Come Share the Feast in Fort Worth

With the Fort Worth General Assembly just a week away, Week of Compassion invites assembly goers to visit WOC staff, committee members and friends, along with two of our major ecumenical partners, Church World Service and the Foods Resource Bank, at the WOC booth. Also, we hope you will join the WOC Celebration on Sunday morning, 8:30 a.m. at First Christian Church in downtown Ft. Worth. John McCullough, the Executive Director of CWS, will preach, the acclaimed women’s choir, MosaicSong will sing, and WOC Associate, Amy Gopp, has planned a creative and energetic worship service. Come and Share the Feast with Week of Compassion!

WOC Map/Poster

Click here for the latest additions to the WOC interactive map/poster. For a complimentary copy of the map/poster for your congregation, call the office at 317.713.2442 or send an e-mail to ecleveland@woc.disciples.org.