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Midwest Flooding

Midwest Flooding

 

This summer brought record breaking floods from Central Wisconsin to Southern Missouri. Levees failed. Dams broke. Swollen rivers left their banks. Towns and homes that survived the Great Flood of 1993 are under water.

EFCA churches in the region have suffered extensive flood damage including Fellowship EFC in La Valle, WI and Parkview EFC in Iowa City, IA, while Calvary Bible EFC in Jewell, KS, was destroyed by a tornado. Numerous homes in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, IA are also impacted.

"When we heard the flood was coming, everybody thought, oh, it will be OK. We were safe in '93. So when we first went in (to the church), I was so taken aback by all the water and the different perspective. Within the first few minutes -- I didn't know where I was."

– Pastor Jeff Gilmore of Parkview EFC

Response

The needs listed below provide an opportunity for the EFCA to respond showing the love of Christ to people affected by the floods. As local EFCA churches are reaching out to their communities, the following action steps have been taken:

Iowa Floods

 

  1. TouchGlobal Crisis Response is coordinating with the Central District and Parkview Church in Iowa City to assist in clean-up and in outreach. On Saturdays in July, teams from Central District churches are working with Parkview Church in this effort.
  2. On July 26, TouchGlobal Crisis Response will lead training for churches in crisis response and long term recovery in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids.
  3. The Central District has created an account for district churches to help with needs in the district. For more information on this opportunity, go to http://cd.efca.org.

Local EFC's are not yet set up to receive teams from outside of the region for overnight stays.

WI Floods

We are coordinating with the Forest Lakes District to mobilize district and regional churches to support the rebuilding of Fellowship EFC in La Valle, WI. Teams of skilled and semi-skilled volunteers will be needed beginning in mid-August and into the fall to help with the rebuilding of the church facility and to engage in outreach to the surrounding community. Contact crisisresponse@efca.org if you are able to help with this need.

The Church has identified the following needs:

  1. Restrooms must be totally gutted and repaired
  2. Electrical work
  3. Wish to replace their lost piano with an 88 key electric keyboard
  4. 4 tables
  5. A pulpit
  6. Projector for use with a laptop computer

Donations to help with the rebuilding of Fellowship EFC can be made through TouchGlobal's Midwest Flood Relief Fund.

Individuals or couples are needed long term to help this church oversee and coordinate the rebuilding efforts. Contact crisisresponse@efca.org if you would be available to serve (1-2 months).

Kansas Tornado

The EFC in Jewell, KS is planning on rebuilding. Teams of skilled and semi-skilled volunteers will be needed to help specific aspects of construction later this year. Contact crisisresponse@efca.org if you would like to help with this need. Individuals or couples are needed long term to help this church oversee and coordinate the rebuilding efforts. Contact crisisresponse@efca.org if you would be available to serve (1-2 months).

What you can do

» Pray for all recovery and rebuilding efforts.

» Pray for compassionate outreach.

» Pray for wisdom in making plans for a long term response.

» Serve on a team (if your church is near the affected regions)

» Donate to provide relief to those in need

You can also call our donor services team at (800) 745-2202 or mail in a donation. Please make checks out to EFCA and send to: EFCA
Attn: Midwest Flood Relief #21709-3990
901 East 78th Street
Minneapolis, MN 55420-1300