wfn.org | Tornado reflections highlight National Day of Prayer in Kansas

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

May 10, 1999 News media contact: Linda Green*(615)742-5470*Nashville, Tenn.
10-71BP{265}

NOTE: Photographs of the tornado are available on the UMNS Web site. This
report may be used as a sidebar to UMNS story #264.

By Kathy Charger Noble*

WICHITA, Kan. (UMNS) - The support and care shown to the Haysville, Kan.
community since the May 3 tornadoes are "even more awesome than what the
tornado can do to us," said  a United  Methodist pastor observing the
National Day of Prayer.

The Rev. Will Glaser, pastor at Haysville United Methodist Church, offered
that reflection to about 50 people during worship at the city hall on May 6.

Glaser joined  Mayor Tim Norton, U.S. Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kansas) and other
clergy in leading the service amid the rubble. 

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials said the tornadoes that
struck Haysville and Wichita affected 8,480 homes, destroying 1,109 of them.
Five people were killed, and more than 100 were injured. Many of the injured
remain hospitalized.   

Vice President Al Gore visited the Haysville community to meet with
residents and tour the hardest-hit areas. He told the survivors that
immediate cleanup of their property was their responsibility, but he
promised help from insurance, FEMA and other sources.

The National Day of Prayer Service began with prayers for peace and justice,
Glaser
said. Following the Scripture reading, prayers were offered. The people
prayed for the victims and gave thanks for the volunteers and churches
providing support.

"Something happened here the other day," Glaser said during worship. "As
awesome and powerful as the tornado was, though, there was something even
more awesome when the support came out.

"Nobody needs to feel alone," he continued. "There are so many crises and
happenings in every area of the world (that) I hope, with the outpouring of
the spirit to help one another, they are as blessed as we are in this
community."

The National Day of Prayer was established in 1952 and is observed on the
first Thursday of May. Other events marking the day included a "Nationally
Broadcast Concert of
Prayer," with segments held in Washington, Los Angeles, Seattle and New
York. In addition to television and radio, the concert was broadcast over
the Internet by crosswalk.com. President Clinton and most state governors
issued proclamations recognizing the National Day of Prayer.

Glaser sounded a similar note in his May 9 sermon. "God reached out to us
this week through the love of people...," he said. "God reaches out to us
through other people. We don't need to feel alone or separated. God works in
awesome ways. Good will come out of this."

The Rev. Don Noble, pastor of Dawson United Methodist Church, also preached
on that theme. The church is in one of the hard-hit areas in south central
Wichita.

Noble emphasized that Jesus' words, "I am always with you," are "more than a
promise. It's an assurance. You cannot get away. Wherever you are, God is
already there. That's assurance." 

At least eight families in the two congregations lost their homes in the
storm. Many others had extensive damage.

Dawson and the adjacent parsonage suffered roof damage in Monday's storm.
They were the only United Methodist church properties damaged.

"Support from the United Methodist connection has been great," Noble said.
Calls and visits from Wichita area clergy were frequent in the first days
after the tornado, he said. Aldersgate and Winfield Grace United Methodist
churches sent work teams to help with the immediate cleanup.
For the first two days after the tornado, the Dawson church and Saint
Margaret-Mary Catholic Church were the relief agencies in their
neighborhood.

During a time for cookies and conversation, people began to reflect on their
experiences. 

John Sullivan told of being narrowly missed by the seven- or eight-inch
block of concrete that came flying through the front window as he stood at
the kitchen sink getting a drink of water.

A young mother recalled standing on her porch, wondering if she should take
her children to the basement. "When I saw the van rolling down the street
sideways, I decided it was time to go."
 						# # #
*Noble is the coordinator of communications for the Kansas West Annual
Conference. The Rev. Don Noble, quoted in the story, is her husband.

______________
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