Storm Systems Sweep Across the U.S.

Thursday, March 8, A.D. 2007

Clean-up efforts continue in the aftermath of back-to-back storm systems that spawned dozens of vicious tornadoes across the Midwest and South. Twenty people were killed in Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, including eight high school students in Enterprise, AL. Church World Service (CWS) has issued an emergency appeal to its member communions to provide material resource shipments (blankets, clean-up kits, etc.) to impacted communities; dispatch CWS disaster staff; and support the development of crucial long-term, local recovery organizations. Week of Compassion has responded with a grant from the Compassion Response Fund to support the CWS appeal and has also sent a grant to Central Christian Church, Columbus, GA, to assist affected families in our congregation there. So far no other Disciples churches in Missouri, Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia or South Carolina have reported any damage to their members or facilities, but WOC continues to monitor the situation.

Need Continues for CWS Kits

Urgent reminder: Church World Service has issued an urgent appeal to the congregations of its member communions for CWS school kits and baby kits. Kit stock in the New Windsor warehouse is nearly depleted, and requests for kits so far this year have exceeded all of 2006. Disciples are urged to participate. For details on kit contents, shipping, etc., click here.

Quakes Strike Beleaguered Indonesia

On Tuesday, March 7, back-to-back earthquakes struck West Sumatra, Indonesia. At least 72 were killed, but the death toll could rise as rescue workers continue to search for missing persons amidst collapsed buildings and homes. Several thousand people have been left homeless. Since the December 26, 2004 tsunami, Indonesia has been repeatedly struck by quakes, landslides, floods and volcanic eruptions. Indeed, Church World Service has made four major responses in Indonesia in as many weeks.

Action by Churches Together (ACT) partners in Indonesia, including CWS, are working together to distribute emergency relief items and emergency medical care to quake survivors. An appeal is forthcoming, and Week of Compassion will respond on behalf of Disciples.

WOC Map/Poster

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