While the world concluded the celebration of Easter amid the Covid pandemic, a series of tornadoes crushed numerous communities across the southeast, leaving many residents who were heeding the Covid 'stay at home' orders, now with no place to stay.  One particularly hard hit community was Ooltewah, TN, near of Chattanooga, and home to Two Rivers Church (EFCA). The church facility was spared, but the EF-3 tornado damaged the homes of ten families from the church, and hundreds more in the area.

One survivor was Jenn Hand, Director of Coming Alive Ministries, and an adjunct ReachGlobal Crisis Response Trauma Care team member. Jenn said, "It came with no warning. I was watching the 11pm news, and the weatherman reported about tornadoes to the north. At 11:30, just as the new ended, the anchor came on and said, 'Take cover immediately. A tornado is on the ground'."  She ran upstairs and grabbed her neighbor, and they sheltered beside her bed. She recounted, "It hit us at 11:32. I was praying out loud. The pressure difference made it feel like the house was going to explode. A tree hit the house, crushing the roof above the bedroom. I'm feeling super grateful to be alive."  

Jenn has spent the week engaging her neighbors in trauma care conversations. While standing in front of literally half of a house with one neighbor lady, the woman shared that she was in a deep sleep in her bedroom not knowing a storm was coming, when the Lord literally woke her up and said “Get up, get your family and take cover.” The bedroom she was in is gone. That half of the house. Gone. As our 'on the ground' staff person, Jenn is also equipping other for more trauma care conversations this weekend. 

Teams from Two Rivers Church have also been out helping in the community. Jon Teague, part of the pastoral staff, shared, "We've had crews at eight sites this week. Today we were serving a Muslim family. It was so cool to serve them in the name of Jesus! They were so grateful. The husband talked about how this has lifted the spirits of his wife, who had been very angry and discouraged since the storm. Today she was bouncing around the site talking to all of us and so encouraged by the help.

 We also had the opportunity to serve a family who had been burned by a church in the past. I truly believe we showed them something about the heart of Jesus and Spirit of His church. They were so encouraged and surprised that someone would come to help them even though they don't go to our church.

Today I stopped next to a church that had been demolished. Only the front of the building remained. People had set up in the parking lot and were giving out food and supplies to those driving by. They gave me water for my crew. I asked "Who are you guys with?" And they pointed behind them and said, "from the church." They were using what remained of their building as a supply station. Unbelievable. The power of God's people." 

Get involved in making a difference!

Pray for Jenn, her neighbors, and the church families impacted. Pray for Pastor Jon and the teams from the church presently responding in the community, that those they meet would receive the love of Christ and experience the service of His Church.

Give online to Tornado Response efforts. Checks payable to EFCA, noting 'Tornado' in memo line can be sent to EFCA, 901 E. 78th St, Minneapolis, MN 55420

Due to the Covid-19 stay at home orders, currently only local volunteers are able to serve. Email crisisresponse@efca.org if you'd like to be put on a list of potential future service opportunities if needed and when allowed by governmental authorities.