Release #026 {2890}April 22, 1996
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.
If you want to know how to get more information about this story, call InfoServ at 1-800/251-8140.