Tornado Relief Letter from the Northwest District Superintendent

 

 

 

Dear Friends:

 

Grace and peace from God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ! I pray this will find you well and in the will of the Master. Our conference year is anew and we pray for all our churches to continue to grow and prosper in our Kingdom Work.

 

As you are already aware, on April 27th we had tornados tear across our great state and cause much death and destruction. The Northwest District had five reported tornado touch downs…three of them set down on the very edge of the western part of our district and never lifted as it exited the eastern part of our area. The stench and ravage of these storms are still very evident and deserve the utmost attention. Our church families (YOU) have responded in admirable ways. We have United Methodist search and rescue, volunteers and UMCOR folks in ground zero areas before the rains stopped. Great response by great individuals and groups throughout the state of Alabama.

 

Here in the Northwest District we had three churches either totally destroyed or heavily damaged. Those three churches are Canaan, Lakeview, and Phil Campbell. Several churches received minor damage, and two parsonages (Canaan, and Hackleburg) also had minor to moderate damage. Tragically we also lost family and friends. However, like any chaotic event, the world keeps spinning. We are picking up the pieces and moving forward.

 

I want to thank you for your generosity of time and money. Everywhere I go I find our churches involved and working in the heat of day. We will continue to work and rebuild lives, churches, and homes. Repairs have begun in Hackleburg. Lakeview, right outside Tanner, is preparing the drawings for their new church, and Phil Campbell’s future will also be bright in the years to come. I want to bring you a report on your financially giving and what has been done with your gifts. Your district office team (Jenna and Pamela) have been working nonstop to keep the everyday operations of the office running smoothly while keeping track of the activities involved with the storm efforts. New Vision Church, with the leadership of Greg Reynolds, has been overseeing the work in Phil Campbell. Karen Cotton, Randy Burbank, and Steve Howard are working the Hackleburg area, Billy Weems in Tanner/Lakeview, Keith Murner in Mt. Hope/Mt, Moriah area, Ray Crump at the Decatur Warehouse, Eric Bell as the district coordinator, and many, many more that I know I have forgotten. Thank you all. Here is a rundown of our district response:

 

 

Donations received: $92,290.00 (Includes $10,000.00 FEMA money)

Money out to date: $44,205.00

Available funds to date: $48,085.00

 

 

 

$10,000.00 to Hackleburg UMC (money for 7 church families who had total loss plus   utility cost for use of building)

$ 6,000.00 to Lakeview UMC (money for 6 families who had total loss)

$ 5,796.00 to NAC for Benefits and Apportionments for Lakeview and Hackleburg 11’

$ 5,000.00 to District Warehouse (FEMA money.)

$ 5,500.00 for gasoline/diesel fuel/oil and distributed to families/volunteers in the first two weeks of recovery.

$3,468.00 for meals for volunteer teams and coordinators

$3,000.00 Wal-Mart gift-cards distributed to families at ground zero areas.

$2,000.00 for two families from Bethlehem UMC who suffered total loss.

$2,400.00 for area coordinators distributed the fist two weeks (Karen Cotton, Eric Bell, Randy Burbank, Lisa Verciglio)

$500.00 to the Franklin County Board of Education

$500.00 to the Barnwell Family. (Designated gift)

$41.00 for ERT fee.

 

Now we are corporately coming to the surface for a gulp of fresh air. We’re gradually moving from cleanup to rebuilding. The money we have will be used for building materials, water, Gatorade, and other volunteer and building needs. We are also in touch with the local schools in Phil Campbell and Hackleburg to assist in anyway we can to prepare for the beginning of the new school year. If you know of a personal need, or desire to adopt a family, or if you can volunteer your time and services, please feel free to contact one of the people mentioned above, your pastor, or this office and we will direct you toward a desired need.

 

Thank you United Methodist, God’s people, for your love and generosity. May we grow the Kingdom and let Jesus be seen without words ever being needed.

 

To God be the Glory!

 

Mike Stonbraker

Northwest District Superintendent