When a natural disaster hits, communities of faith know who to call for support: the police, fire department, and city officials.
With our Building Disaster Response service, they can also call Disciples Church Extension Fund (DCEF).
That’s what First Christian Church in Mayfield, KY did when a tornado flattened their 100-year-old building in December 2021. Since then, we have accompanied the faith community through a retreat and process of discernment, to the construction of a new facility.
Our team works with places of worship and their regions every step of the way to ensure that the trauma of a disaster isn’t compounded by the uncertainty of how to deal with the aftermath ahead.
And that’s what DCEF is doing right now in St. Louis, MO.
From May 15 to 16, a rare tornado toppled the bell tower of Centennial Christian Church, which resulted in the tragic loss of one of its members. Union Avenue Christian Church was also in the pathway of strong winds, which shattered its sanctuary’s stained-glass windows and damaged its roof.
Centennial Christian Church
In partnership with Week of Compassion, our ministry is assisting congregational leaders in assessing the immediate challenges, securing affected structures, navigating the world of insurance claim and construction next steps, and much more – at no cost to the congregations.
But DCEF doesn’t only address damage caused by tornadoes.
In April, floods almost swallowed Monterey, KY and its Disciples church. The building’s basement and part of its sanctuary filled with water. Building and Capital Services Advisor and disaster response expert Jim Michel is guiding them to restore their building according to construction best practices.
During the winter, sub-freezing temperatures and heavy snow led to frozen and burst pipes at Tall Oaks Conference Center in Linwood, KS. This damaged their main meeting and assembly lodge as well as one of their retreat cabins. DCEF continues to work with Tall Oaks and their insurance adjuster to restore the facilities in time for summer.
With climate change continuing to amplify severe weather, DCEF is ready to help Disciples with their damaged buildings – whether it takes days or years to rebuild.
Need help with your facilities after a natural disaster? Connect here.