Disaster Assistance/Moore Tornado

Below photos: Early morning preparing bags for the lunches and a group that came today helping us cook smoked sausage and work crews loaded ready to help homeowner cleanup.

Disaster Assistance Moore OK Tornado

I arrived here at 6:30 AM today. It has been a very busy day so far. Have been taking meals, water and other supplies out into the damage areas all day. Around 20 of the Central members had damage(minor to total destruction). With the rain yesterday we found out the Central Church building had some roof damage. Will update again later tonight. Photo below is volunteers preparing the lunches to be taken out today and unloading semi of supplies from Disaster Relief Nashville.

Disaster Assistance/Moore OK Tornado

Latest update. Just talked with the preacher at Central. Cleanup is starting they have a bobcat coming and we have a group of volunteers coming Saturday that is bring another bobcat with them. I will be arriving early Friday morning to get the meal program, supply distribution and volunteering coordination programs going. I talked to many, many people today that wants to help.

Disaster Assistance Mission-West/Cleburne TX

700 meals served today at West and Cleburne. Photos below are of damage in Cleburne. We are sending another 200 meals to Westhill Church of Christ, Cleburne TX tomorrow. If you are wanting to help with cleanup in Cleburne you can sleep and shower here at West Church of Christ.

West Church of Christ Update from Elder (Tom)

Good evening, all. This is my evening update. Peggy has posted a list of needs at the distribution area. I have shared it, so it should be on my site. Please share her post as you see fit. I know I am beginning to sound like a broken record on my daily activities. So, for today, look to one of the old posts. Today's would be very similar if we just changed the names. So, I am going to try to concentrate on the things today that are different. The main thing is that we are beginning to have youth and other large groups ask if they can come in the summer and provide clean-up or VBS, etc. I liken our situation to trying to drain the swamp when the alligators are nipping at you. You kind of have to pay attention to the alligators first. In our case, that is getting help to those in need. This, of course, includes seeing people who are bringing in gifts that make this all possible. But, the immediate goal remains trying to help those in need. We do not have the time and talent to consider what is going to be taking place in June and July. I hope all that are reading this does not take it wrong. We appreciate the kind offers of assistance. By the time June and July get here, we will be wishing we had jumped out and made a decision. We don't want to get a group here that has nothing to do, or that we are not prepared for. That would only generate ill will against us. So, please bear with us. We will get there, but we just don't know when. Check back here for updates. When we get a handle on this, we will try to get the word out. We need lots of volunteers Tuesday and Wednesday. We have large amounts of donated goods that need to get into the dry before the rains come. We are open from a little after 8 to around 8 p.m. Thank your for your patience. Pray for us. Thanks. Share as you see fit.

Disaster Assistance Mission-West Texas

Yesterday was a tuff one 25-35 MPH winds and temp is 50 and damp. Much harder though on the distribution tent city. We handed out 192 meals. Ice water and bags of ice was not a fast moving item today. Below is some of the volunteers helping today

Photos taken by volunteers while handing out meals in West Texas

West Texas Explosion

Below was taken in part from facebook post by Tom Kissinger(Elder West Church of Christ) Thank you to the volunteers. I would name names, but I would miss most of you. If I did not thank you personally, by apology. You are appreciated. Very much. We have met with many people today. We have passed out gift cards, we have passed out food, and we have passed out supplies, etc. We have accepted gifts from some wonderful Christian people that drove good distances to meet with us. We have more meetings scheduled. The outpouring of love has led me to tears on a number of occasions. I love you, and God does, too. We continue to have offers of help. If my recall is correct, we were told by one group that they could get in 50 workers in a day. Another said that they could get 40. Of course, we are not ready for that just yet. I am trying to keep information to contact them. Christian counseling has also been offered, along with chaplain services. Let us know your need, and we will try to get you connected with these people to fill it. It just came to me that we will probably need some people to open their homes to some of our volunteers coming in. Housing is short in West, so if some folks in Waco or Hillsboro see this, give it some thought and prayer. More tents coming tomorrow. Johnson Bros roofing has already loaned us one tent and a semi trailer. Another semi trailer is coming. Tents are coming from other sources. I am sorry--I just cannot remember who--I think a church in Waco? We opened our building today to the Texas Workforce Commission that is working with displaced workers from the nursing home that was destroyed. We gave each participant a gift card for $100. Disaster Assistance church of Christ provided sack lunches for all that wanted one. They also drove around town passing out lunches to relief workers at various sites. We have also opened our doors to various government agencies who are training workers that go into the disaster area. We have let various agencies use the church to try to help those in need. This was ALL voluntary on the part of the church of Christ at West. NOT a government takeover in anyway. They have all been thankful and courteous. We can still use gift cards and cash made out to Church of Christ at West. You can also donate to Churches of Christ Disaster Relief, Inc. out of Nashville, TN. Also, Disaster Assistance church of Christ. They are really being a huge help with the food--I ate some of it today. Outstanding sack lunch. We also are now taking donations of good clothing, canned food, packaged snacks (for the sack lunches), diapers, formula, cleaning supplies, etc. We hope to be able to get those packaged up so that distribution will be easier. The demand for these items will probably rise. I know I have forgotten something. For that I am truly sorry. It was not intentional. May the grace and peace of God be upon you. Love, tom

West Texas Plant Explosion

Photos below are West CoC members house son's room and pickup are for meals and other supplies.

-Disaster Assistance Mission-West Texas Plant Explosion

Disaster Assistance Mission made it to West TX this morning. Photo below is worship service at West Church of Christ today. Working this afternoon on getting the mobile kitchen ready for cooking tomorrow.

Disaster Assistance - West, TX Plant Explosion

West, Texas, plant that exploded owned by saints, preacher lost home​ WEST, Tex. (BNc) by Mark Teske, GBN — The Adair family are the owners of the fertilizer plant in West that exploded last night, and they are members of the church of Christ in West.​They were in Bible class when they learned of the fire, and were on their way to the location when it exploded. Also, the preacher for the church in West, as well as other church members, are among those who lost their homes. Prayers are still needed.​ The Disaster Assistance Mission is in route to West, TX. Will have more updates later.

West, Texas, plant that exploded owned by saints, preacher lost home WEST, Tex. (BNc) by Mark Teske, GBN — The Adair family are the owners of the fertilizer plant in West that exploded last night, and they are members of the church of Christ in West. They were in Bible class when they learned of the fire, and were on their way to the location when it exploded. Also, the preacher for the church in West, as well as other church members, are among those who lost their homes. Prayers are still needed.

Update By Rebecca Aponte-Young

Stephen Aponte and Pedro Gelabertalong with members of the Long Island Church of Christ have been continuing the Disaster Relief to the people in the Far Rockaway and Coney Island areas. Hundreds of people have been receiving furniture and appliances and all kinds of gifts provided by the COC Disaster Relief Effort and Disaster Assistance Mission. This week, members from the Northport Church of Christ, http://northportcoc.org/, joined us with Kerry Richardson to continue in this great work! About 14 members from the Northport Church of Christ flew and drove into NYC on Saturday to join the relief effort. Praise God fior their desire to serve! This week we will be delivering furniture, appliances and Household necessities like pots and pans, etc. to those who continue to be in need. Our brethren from Northport brought a truckload of their own of many supplies that was collected from the members of their church. Awesome stuff! Please pray for our efforts of soul winning. Today the women are going to a Sandy victim's home in Seagate, Brooklyn to help her organize her home and kitchen. I will be doing a bible study there with Pamels PettyJohn. I met Pamela on our line on day in November when we went to Coney Island and had at least 700 people that day. We were very low on volunteersa that day and so we weren't able to speak to too many people or take thir phone numbers for Bible study. But I saw an interest in Pamela and offered her bible study quickly in a short conversation because our line was so long. She gladly said yes and gave me her phone number. Pamela has been hugely instrumental in us helping hundreds of other people in the seagate community. She opened her home for community bible study and allowed us to distribut supplies right out of her home. She has been amazing! Please pray for her open heart and willingness to obey the Lord. May God be glorified through this Relief Effort and may many know that Jesus is alive!

-Disaster Assistance Mission/Kensington Woods CoC-Hattiesburg Tornado

Still lots going on here we have work crews out helping with cleanup and repair, served 626 meals Wednesday and received another load of supplies from Nashville Relief. Photos below shows unloading semi, cars inline for distribution of supplies and cars backed up at the registration table. Still lots going on here we have work crews out helping with cleanup and repair, served 626 meals Wednesday and received another load of supplies from Nashville Relief. Photos below shows unloading semi, cars inline for distribution of supplies and cars backed up at the registration table.

Disaster Assistance Hattiesburg Tornado

1st photo below is todays early worship service, 2nd photo is volunteers helping with lunches today. We served 970 meals today.

We have served 3433 meals the first 5 days. Today there was around 100 volunteers that showed up here at Kensington Woods to help. We had a great day. First photo below shows devo before starting work and 2nd is volunteers working on lunches.