Personal From Ministerial and Member Services

Supporting One Another

While watching the news recently and seeing many pictures of the devastation from the tornado that decimated parts of Mayfield, Kentucky, I could not help reflect upon similar experiences that happened during the 19 years our family spent in Oklahoma.

The pictures of Mayfield looked like the pictures and actual damage done to Moore, a suburb of Oklahoma City, two different times during those years. Shortly after the tornadoes in Moore, I drove through the devastated areas and was struck by thinking, “I’m shocked that more people didn’t die in these storms.” There was just nothing left of some of the homes, except the foundation.

I remember thinking of how frightening it must have been for those who were in their homes when category 5 tornadoes blasted through their homes and neighborhoods. We were never right in the middle of such a storm but, on several occasions, we did need to take shelter in our neighbor’s underground storm shelter and in our small closet deemed to be the safest part of our home, since we had no basement. Thankfully, that was the extent of our experiences and we have always felt quite blessed to have not seen and experienced more!

At times like this, we should all feel a need to support and to help in ways that we are able. No doubt, many of us bring to mind the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and are reminded that, really, everyone is our neighbor. We know we are not to be respecters of persons, so anyone in need of genuine help should be a concern for us. And translating that concern into something tangible and useful is what Christ clearly teaches in Matthew 25:31-46. He dynamically points out that words and thoughts are not enough, but they should be followed up by concrete action!

Doug Collison, our pastor in the Mayfield area, has reached out to all our members who may have been affected by these monster storms. Thankfully, none of our members were hurt, and we are only aware of one family who sustained relatively minor damage to their home. Mr. Collison reported that they had “two broken windows, their garage door and garage roof torn off and a fallen tree on their house.” He also writes, “The tree doesn’t seem to have done a whole lot of damage. They have procured a generator and help through the Department of Veterans Affairs for getting the tree cut down and taken off their roof. The [local] church has been very generous in their support, as well. The family is deeply moved and appreciative of all the help they are receiving.”

We are especially grateful to God that the damage wasn’t more extensive, as this home was only about 4 or 5 blocks south of the heaviest hit areas of Mayfield. Thank you to all who have been praying for those in the path of these storms and for the families who have had loved ones injured or killed.

Here in Cincinnati, a church member family who had their own home destroyed in a tornado a few years ago, has organized a truck and this weekend church members here will make donations to fill the truck with needed supplies for anyone suffering loss from these storms. A similar effort from the Indianapolis congregation is also taking place this weekend, and they will also be sending a truck full of supplies. Doug Collison also mentioned that “as of right now, the only relief that most places are looking for is food, water and toys.”

Ministerial and Member Services works through our pastors to assess the needs of our brethren and to reach out to them in times of need. We always encourage our members to make their pastor aware of their needs and to not assume he is already aware or doesn’t care to help.

If any church members would like to contribute to this cause, we would recommend making a donation to either Good Works at ucg.org/members/service-projects/disaster-relief or LifeNets at lifenets.org/lifenets-help-for-december-11-2021-kentucky-tornado-victims. I know firsthand that these monies are used to benefit those who most need help.

Be sure to listen to today’s podcast (below) to hear Doug Collison and Vic Kubik discuss Doug’s first-hand report of his visit to the scene of devastation and its impact on the community and Church.

Wishing you all an encouraging, uplifting and inspiring Sabbath!