Violent Weather Again Strikes Nation's Midsection

Thursday, April 10, A.D. 2008

As we prepare this WOC Update, violent spring weather is again developing across much of the nation’s midsection. Severe storm warnings have been issued in scores of communities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri. Heavy rains are also expected throughout the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio River valleys as the system moves northward and eastward.

WOC continues to respond to the tornadoes and severe weather that hit much of the same area last week. Grants have gone to First CC, Little Rock, AR, whose facilities were struck by a tornado last Friday, and to both Park Hill CC, North Little Rock, AR and First CC, Buffalo, MO, to support members whose homes were hit. WOC has increased its support of the CWS Spring Storms appeal that was recently revised and expanded. And in response to an urgent appeal to replenish the depleted stock of Church World Service Gift of the Heart clean-up buckets, WOC has provided an emergency grant of $15,000 to CWS. For more information and details on CWS Gift of the Heart Kits and how you can help, click here.

Disciples Work Groups Top Recovery Goal

Breaking news! The Disciples Hurricane Recovery Initiative’s goal of sending 750 work groups to the Gulf South (and tornado-stricken Greensburg, KS) has been reached and exceeded! The Office of Disciples Volunteering reports that 753 groups have gone, or are now registered to go, since the Initiative began September 1, 2006. This in no way means that groups are no longer needed. There are still open dates this summer at Disciples Mission Stations and with other Disciples-related recovery partners. And it does not mean that Disciples’ participation and presence in long-term recovery work will end August 31. Years and years of rebuilding work lie ahead, and Disciples will be present. ODV is already signing up work groups for the fall of 2008 and into 2009. Complete details on “Phase II” will be announced in early May. Week of Compassion will continue to provide work trip grants to volunteer groups requesting them. Applications can be downloaded from the WOC website. For the millions of dollars in designated gifts from Disciples congregations, members and friends, and for the hundreds of thousands of Disciples work hours, we are grateful -- many, many are grateful.

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.