wfn.org | Tornadoes Hit Illinois, Arkansas

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"UNITED METHODIST DAILY NEWS" by SUSAN PEEK on Aug. 11, 1991 at 13:58 Eastern,
about FULL TEXT RELEASES FROM UNITED METHODIST NEWS SERVICE (2894 notes).

Note 2888 by SUSAN PEEK on April 22, 1996 at 22:48 Eastern (3138 characters).

SEARCH: tornadoes, Arkansas, Illinois, storms

026 {2890}                                          April 22, 1996

General Conference '96

Windy spring weekend leaves
damage, hope for churches

                 by United Methodist News Service*

     Tornadoes raced through Illinois and Arkansas during the
weekend of April 19-21 leaving behind varying amounts of damage to
United Methodist Church-owned property.

     Illinois Governor Edgar declared Champaign and Macon counties
disaster areas.

     In the Springfield District, Ebenezer United Methodist Church
was destroyed. "When you go into the entryway and look from the
steps, there's nothing but the basement," said the Rev. David
Venter, pastor of the 125-year-old congregation.

     In Champaign District, the Ogden United Methodist Church was
lost along with 80 percent of the homes in the community.  The
Rev. Guy Keysear reported a structural engineer, who looked at the
building on Sunday, told him "the sanctuary may be saved, but the
rest of the building will need to be demolished and rebuilt."
     
     The Sharon United Methodist Church, Decatur District, used to
have a three-story-high tower.  The building was leveled to the
tops of the doorways.  "Somehow we managed to save most of the
church office, including the records, as well as a piano and the
organ," said the Rev. Tom Busch, pastor. 

     McHenry United Methodist Church outside Olney, Ill., also
suffered damage when storms swept through the area.

     In Arkansas, the towns of Van Buren and Fort Smith bore the
worst of an April 21 tornado that struck close to midnight.  Three
people, including two children, were killed and more than 50
injured.

     The Red Cross established a shelter at St. Paul's United
Methodist Church, Fort Smith.  St. Paul's pastor, the Rev. Paul
Bokker, said, "The outpouring of people has been tremendous. 
People were coming to help right away."

     The Rev. Tom Hazelwood, disaster coordinator for Fort Smith
United Methodist District reported that Midland Heights United
Methodist Church in Fort Smith sustained damage to the roof.  The
roof of Hermitage United Methodist Church, Van Buren, Ark.,
sustained roof damage and the parsonage had roof and window
damage.

     Although the downtown business area of Fort Smith suffered
"real devastation," First United Methodist Church, which was
nearby, was undamaged.  The Rev. John Walker, senior pastor, said
that four or five member families' homes were destroyed. "One
church member used her body to shield her 12-year-old nephew from
debris as her home was struck by the tornado," Walker said.  They
both were unhurt.

     The United Methodist General Conference here April 22 sent
greetings, prayers and concern to the Mayor of Fort Smith in
response to the tornado.
                              #  #  #
                                                 -- Ralph E. Baker

     * Information for this story was provided by Bettie Story,
editor, Central Illinois Conference United Methodist Reporter, and
Jane Dennis, editor of the Arkansas United Methodist. 
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