Ozark Christian College Weathers Storm that Kills 3 in Missouri

By Jim Nieman

News outlets are reporting that storms and tornadoes injured several people in Carl Junction, Mo., and killed three people in Golden City on Wednesday.

Carl Junction is just a few miles north of Joplin, Mo., where Ozark Christian College is located. The storms occurred on the eighth anniversary of tornadoes that killed 161 people in Joplin.

Matt Proctor, president of OCC, said, “At the moment, we know of one student’s house in nearby Carl Junction that experienced storm damage (roof damage and blown-out window), but no one was hurt, for which we’re grateful.”

Proctor said there is no damage of any significance to report at the college.

Victor Knowles of Peace On Earth Ministries (POEM), located right next to OCC, echoed Proctor’s assessment, even as an inventory of damage to the region is continuing.

Knowles said he returned to the area soon after the storms passed through.

“I heard that Webb City, right next to Joplin, got hit by an E5 [category tornado],” Knowles said. “Also, tornadoes touched down in Carl Junction and Oronogo. There are Christian churches in all of those cities. . . . That’s about all I know as of this moment. Our ministry is right next to OCC and GNPI [Good News Productions International] and College Press, and we are OK as far as I know.”

The Associated Press reported, “Jasper County Emergency Management Director Keith Stammer said a tornado started Wednesday night southwest of the small town of Carl Junction and moved northeast through the towns of Oronogo and Golden City. Carl Junction is about 4 miles north of Joplin.”

Media outlets are reporting extensive damage in Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital city.

Jim Nieman is managing editor of Christian Standard.