United Methodists begin Kansas tornado response
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The Rev. Gene McIntosh, pastor of the First United Methodist
Church in Greensburg, Kan., and his wife, Judy, look at the church
building destroyed by the tornado. Photo by G. Marc Benavidez, courtesy
of The Wichita Eagle.
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A UMNS Report
By the Rev. Kathy Noble*
May 8, 2007
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An aerial view shows how the May 4 tornado devastated the church building. Photo by Jaime Oppenheimer, courtesy of The Wichita Eagle .
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"It is just painful," the Rev. Gene McIntosh said.
The pastor of Greensburg (Kan.) United Methodist Church choked back
tears and shook his head in disbelief as he saw, for the first time, the
church's tornado-shattered building with its cross-topped steeple gone,
its sanctuary exposed and pews filled with debris.
McIntosh, his wife, Judy, and their children had seen similar scenes
elsewhere in town on May 5 while accompanying an NBC News reporter on
their first tour of the ravaged community.
At least 10 people died when an F-5 tornado – with winds of more than
200 miles per hour – struck Greensburg late in the evening of May 4,
destroying 90 to 95 percent of the residences and commercial buildings
in the town of 1400 people. The community has been declared a disaster
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The Greensburg parsonage, where the McIntosh family rode out the
storm in the basement, was "still standing, sort of," said McIntosh who
is completing his fourth year as pastor there. The family spent the rest
of the night in a shelter in nearby Haviland and is now staying with
relatives in Hutchinson.
The rural homes of several members of the Trousdale United Methodist
Church, which is in nearby Trousdale, also were destroyed as the same
1.3-1.7-mile-wide tornado that hit Greensburg cut a 22-mile swath across
southwest Kansas.
On the following night, May 5, another tornado struck, killing two
more people and damaging buildings, including the Trousdale church.
Church members gathered at the building on Sunday morning, May 6, to
salvage the altar, piano and some furniture. They plan to worship May 13
at the home of a member. The Rev. Elaine Lord, Trousdale pastor, said
the congregation has a strong and positive spirit and is determined to
go on.
The United Methodist response to the disaster began by mid-morning on
the day after the first tornado hit. McIntosh and Lord were making
calls to their parishioners, while the United Methodist Committee on
Relief released an emergency grant of $10,000 to the denomination's
Kansas West Annual (regional) Conference.
Kansas Area Bishop Scott J. Jones issued a special appeal for the
Kansas Area Disaster Fund, asking area churches for special Sunday
offerings as the severe weather season continues. Much of Kansas is also
experiencing flooding as a super cell weather system continued to
generate severe thunderstorms.
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The Rev. Gene McIntosh touches the cross that stood atop the
church where he has been pastor four years. Photo by G. Marc Benavidez,
courtesy of The Wichita Eagle.
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"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Greensburg and the
surrounding areas, and our assistance is on the way," said the Rev. R.
Randy Day, chief executive of the United Methodist Board of Global
Ministries, which includes UMCOR. "The strong, resilient people of
Kansas will weather this storm, and we are glad we can be a part of the
recovery."
UMCOR is providing on-site support through UMCOR disaster consultant
Cherri Baer, who is working with Nancy Proffitt, Kansas West disaster
response coordinator, to mobilize the response when volunteers are
allowed into the community. As of May 7, access to Greensburg was
limited to residents and a small number of disaster responders.
Plans are under way for United Methodist volunteers to staff a
liquids trailer provided by the conference's Salina District, a hot
foods trailer from the Hutchinson District and a tools trailer from the
Wichita East District.
Volunteers were welcome to clean up debris and downed trees in other
communities that were in the path of the storms. Organizers say people
also will be needed to walk fields to remove debris that can severely
damage farm machinery.
To contribute financially, drop checks in local United Methodist
church offering plates with "UMCOR Domestic Disaster Advance #901670"
written in the memo line or made payable to UMCOR and sent to UMCOR at
P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068. Contributions also may be made
online at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ or by calling (800) 554-8583.
To send checks to the Kansas Area Disaster Fund, make checks payable
to Kansas West Conference and indicate "Area Disaster Fund" on the memo
line. Mail to Kansas West Conference, 9440 E. Boston St., Suite 110,
Wichita, KS 66207. Arrangements are being made for online donations.
To volunteer, visit the Kansas West Conference Web site at www.kswestumc.org or Kansas West Village at www.7villages.com/kansaswestconference.
*Noble is editor of Interpreter, a publication of United
Methodist Communications and the official ministry magazine of The
United Methodist Church. This report was compiled with the assistance of
Lisa Elliott Diehl, director of communications for the Kansas Area.
News media contact: Kathy Noble, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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Resources
Kansas West Conference
First United Methodist Church of Greensburg, Kan.
United Methodist Committee on Relief | 
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