Tornado damage and relief efforts
Many have asked about the effects of the recent tornados in Missouri and Alabama. Our headquarters office, World Evangelism Center, did not sustain any damage from the F4 tornado that hit the St. Louis area, and no lives were lost. However, the airport took a direct hit and suffered tremendous damage. Many homes were destroyed and several neighborhoods were flattened. Several members of our churches lost homes, and the church in Bridgeton was damaged. The home of Sister Catherine Chambers, wife of our former general superintendent, was destroyed, but thankfully she was not home at the time. The home of Brother and Sister Ray Agnew, former manager of the Pentecostal Publishing House, had some damage, but many homes around them were totally destroyed.
Alabama was hit hard with an F5 tornado, and many of our saints and churches suffered losses. David Hall, a newly licensed minister, is in critical condition, and his wife was killed in the tornado that hit their home. A twelve-year-old girl from the Moulton church was also killed. Please keep Brother Hall and these two families in your prayers.
Compassion Services International (CSI) has been in contact with district superintendents from the hardest hit states including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Georgia. Brother Scotty Slaydon is now visiting the affected areas. CSI will send funding immediately for those who have requested it, but there is an immediate need for bottled water, as some areas will be without electricity for another week or more. To donate funds toward relief in these states you may do so through Compassion Services at www.upci.org. You may also donate by text. For general text donations, simply text "CSI" to 85944 and reply "YES" to confirm your gift. A one-time donation of $10 will be billed to your mobile phone bill.
(Messaging and data rates may apply. Donations are collected for CSI by mobilecause.com. Reply STOP to 85944 to stop. Reply HELP to 85944 for help. For terms, click here.) To become part of the CSI broadcast list and be updated via text whenever new alerts are sent, text "CSIHELP" to 27138.
Planting Daughter Churches
At homemissions.com I discuss "The Why and How of Planting Daughter Churches" with Carlton Coon, general director of Home Missions.
Update on Foreign Minister
Late last year I reported to you concerning a minister in a totalitarian country. He was arrested and sentenced to death. He is still in prison, but thankfully his execution has been postponed indefinitely. We would appreciate your continued prayer for this country and for this minister and his family.
Sincerely in Christ,
David K. Bernard
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