wfn.org | Disciples support relief efforts after Northwest floods

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

February 5, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-5

    INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- The disaster relief and development ministry of the
Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) is assisting emergency efforts in the Northwest
U.S. following the
winter rains. Families in Tennessee also were assisted following recent
tornados there.

    Week of Compassion provided emergency grants to Yakama Christian Center,
White
Swan, Wash.; Fairview Community Christian Church, Trowbridge, Calif.; First
Christian
Church, Medford, Ore.; and First Christian Church, Ontario, Ore., to help
families in those
communities. WOC also funded a request by Country Homes Christian Church,
Spokane, Wash.,
for interfaith efforts there.

    The Disciples compassion ministry provided a $6,000 grant to support a
$500,000
Church World Service appeal for the Northwest floods. CWS will concentrate on
pressing needs
in American Indian, immigrant and migrant farm worker communities.

    The National Council of Churches-related ministry has sent 700 blankets to
two churches
in Marysville and Guerneville, Calif. Other funds will go toward cleanup and
repair, food,
blankets and bedding, health kits, cash assistance, advocacy on behalf of
survivors to assure they
receive assistance, and pastoral care. 

    Disciples Terry and Tina Wesbrock, Kearney, Ariz., are among seven CWS
volunteer
disaster resource consultants dispatched to work with the religious
communities to develop the
ecumenical response.

    More than 100 homes were destroyed in Murfreesboro, Tenn., by tornadoes
which
ripped through Northern Alabama and middle Tennessee during the Jan. 25-26
weekend. A
significant number of the homes destroyed were uninsured, according to the
Rev. Johnny Wray,
WOC director.

    Central Christian Church, Murfreesboro, received a compassion grant to
directly assist
emergency and cleanup efforts in the community. Central's pastor, the Rev.
Mark Calvert-Rosenberger, has played an instrumental role in the relief
endeavor, Wray said. 

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