(This article was updated at 5:00 p.m. Monday with new information from IDES—International Disaster Emergency Service, a Christian church/church of Christ organization that provides emergency assistance in or near disaster situations around the world, and from Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky.)
Tornadoes roared through six states over the weekend, causing much damage and loss of life. Hardest hit appears to be Kentucky, where many were killed at a candle factory in the city of Mayfield. First Christian Church in that city was among the structures seriously damaged.
The Disciples of Christ congregation gathered in a parking lot on Sunday morning for a joint service with First Presbyterian Church. The lot was surrounded by rubble. The church’s Facebook shows several pictures of the damage, including one where the pipes of the church’s organ are visible and another of the Communion table with the comment, “The table of the Lord is intact.”
The Christian Chronicle reported that 20 people took shelter in the basement of Northside Church of Christ in that same western Kentucky city. That building was undamaged but without water and electricity on Sunday.
Tyler Alverson, minister with Mayfield’s Seven Oaks Church of Christ—another noninstrumental congregation—told the Chronicle that their building was undamaged but that some members had lost homes and businesses.
IDES UPDATE: Disaster response coordinator Mason Lambert was in hard-hit Mayfield, Ky., the day after tornadoes stormed through. He met with Kentucky Disaster Management officials.
“The situation in Mayfield is grim and we have been told to hold off sending in volunteers for the time being,” wrote Jeff Greene, director of church relations for IDES. “So, we are setting up our base camp . . . with the Bowling Green [Ky.] Christian Church.” Bowling Green also was hard hit by the storms.
Green said, “100 percent of donations to IDES designated to ‘tornadoes’ will go to aid in the recovery.”
IDES is looking for volunteers to help with clean-up and recovery. The first phase of operation will involve debris removal (using chainsaws and heavy equipment) and placing tarps on damaged roofs. Several volunteers are needed for both overnight and day volunteer opportunities on the following dates:
• Dec. 15-18
• Dec. 20-25
• Dec. 27 to Jan. 1
• Jan. 3-8
If you, your church, or someone you know is interested in volunteering with IDES or would like more information, click on this link or email [email protected].
To make a donate or learn more about IDES relief efforts in Kentucky, click this donation link.
UPDATE: WDRB.com shared that Rhonda Laguna, executive pastor of Northeast Christian Church in Louisville, spoke with several pastors of churches in Mayfield to ask about “things they . . . need right now.”
A supply drive to help tornado victims was started at Northeast’s 9 a.m. Sunday service and donations poured in so overwhelmingly that the church had to halt drop-off donations as of 3 p.m. Monday due to lack of storage space, according to Northeast’s Facebook.
The church plans to transport supplies to Mayfield on Tuesday morning.
The church anticipates continuing to help in the coming weeks, though specific needs are likely to change. Monitor the church’s Facebook for updates.
If you are aware of tornado damage or other losses to Christian church/church of Christ congregations, please send an email to [email protected] or attach a comment to the bottom of this article.
(Image of the Communion table is from the Facebook for First Christian Church of Mayfield, Ky.)
0 Comments