wfn.org | Sun rises on Easter service for members of churches hit by

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

tornado

April 14, 1998 Contact: Joretta Purdue*(202)546-8722*Washington   {223}

NOTE: This story may be used as a sidebar to UMNS #222.

By Ron Council*

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (UMNS) -- As dawn broke on April 12, about 100
worshipers celebrated an open-air Easter service on the grounds of
Edgewater Baptist Church, across the street from Edgewater United
Methodist Church.

Both churches had been destroyed four days earlier by a tornado. The
storm killed 33 people in the Birmingham area, including seven United
Methodists. A member of Edgewater United Methodist Church was among the
dead.

The tornado also demolished most of the homes and other buildings in the
neighborhood.

United Methodist minister Jerry Hooper gave members of both
congregations an Easter message in which he referred to the
"destruction, hopelessness and sense of despair" that the disciples felt
until they realized Christ had risen from the grave. Participants were
seated on pews rescued from the debris by volunteers.

Hooper also read from two bits of paper found in the rubble of his
church. One was a 25-year-old note from a member on the spiritual
vitality of the church. The other, dated in December 1995, was from Mrs.
Carlos Tyndal, wife of a former minister who served the congregation for
22 years. She wrote of the inspiration she received from her memories of
those years.

Later, Hooper led a service for about 70 worshipers on the lawn of
Edgewater United Methodist Church.

Members have said they want to rebuild. The first task will be clearing
the debris from the area where the sanctuary and education building once
stood, Hooper said. He added that the congregation may need to use a
temporary building, but the process of working through the insurance
claims has been started.

The family of Beatrice Anderson, the church member killed by the
tornado, is staying in the parsonage of Martin Memorial United Methodist
Church in nearby Wylam, Ala. A number of children and grandchildren will
share the home, said Hooper, who serves both churches. Volunteers from
Martin and other churches are providing clothing, linen and food to the
Anderson family while a long-term solution is sought.

# # #

* Council is the North Alabama Conference director of communications and
editor of The Voice magazine.  	

United Methodist News Service
(615)742-5470
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