On Saturday, February 24, 2007 at least two devastating tornados set down in and near Dumas, Arkansas, causing major damage to homes and businesses in the area. Churches of Christ responded immediately to the needs by offering food, clothing and shelter to residents who were in need.
On March 7, Dick Dean, Ron Nance, Benny Clark, and Larry Daughety made the 2 ½ hour trip to Dumas to visit with church members in Dumas to assess any needs with which the College Church might help. The next day Ron and Benny returned to Dumas to deliver clothing which was needed by six children whose parents were members of the Long Street Church of Christ. They also left $500 with church leaders to help purchase roofing supplies which were needed. March 16 a group comprised of Ron Nance, Don Eads, Todd Gentry, and Sam Billingsley traveled to Dumas to take $2500 to help church members meet the deductible on their home owner’s insurance so work could begin on repairing their homes. A car was also donated to help a member of the Church in Dumas replace her automobile that was destroyed when the tornado struck her home.
Plans were made while in Dumas for a larger group of college students, Harding faculty, and College Church members to return to Dumas Saturday, March 24, for a day of relief work.
On Saturday, March 24th, just one month after two tornadoes whipped through the town of Dumas and left many homes destroyed, a group of 74 made a trip there to help with the tornado disaster relief. This team consisted of 44 students from Harding University and about 30 members of the College Church of Christ. The members of College Church included families, seniors, elders, and other individuals. The day’s clean-up activities consisted mainly of cleaning debris, but we did have several who helped roof a house. But most of all, we impacted the people of Dumas.
The disaster relief effort started early Saturday morning around 7:30 in the parking lot of the College and Outreach Ministry Rock House. We enjoyed a light breakfast before departing to Dumas. The group made the two-hour trip in buses, vans, and other vehicles. The servants arrived at the Long Street Church in Dumas (Churches of Christ Disaster Relief central) and spent time in devotion before dividing into three work groups. The team worked up and down several streets clearing debris, bagging trash, cutting trees and roofing a house. The homeowners that we helped were underinsured or uninsured and had be contacted through the local churches. God’s hands to a hurting community were most affected not by their work, but by their contact with the homeowners. All of which said they would never forget the labor of love. Thank you to all who were a blessing.
The need in Dumas was so great because while the area was in great need, there was no federal disaster relief available. Most of the area had been forgotten, because most of the people only remember the disaster in the first week. These overwhelmed people saw compassion and God was praised.
The relief team arrived back in Searcy after 6 pm. They had worked with seven houses and three churches. A personal contact was made at every house and the team knew that God has used them on this day. The relief effort was about more than just those who made the journey to Dumas. Countless others prepared breakfast, lunch, made donations, purchased need supplies, and loaned equipment for the effort. In all, over 110 were involved in some way in the second greatest command of loving our neighbor.
Thanks to all who took time out of their Saturday to help the people in Dumas and to all who took the time to prepare the meals, offer supplies and money, and offer their prayers for us. God worked through us that day, and it was just as much a blessing to us as it was for the homeowners.
Todd Gentry