Deadly Tornado Tears Through Kentucky Town, Destroying Churches And Businesses
Mayfield, Kentucky. Photo via Baptist Press
As a deadly tornado tore through the heart of Mayfield, Ky., Friday night, members of the Northside Church of Christ took shelter in the church’s building.
About 20 people, including church members and neighbors, waited out the storm in the basement, associate minister Tyler Wunderlich told The Christian Chronicle. A few dared to look outside — and were able to trace the path of the tornado by following the bright power flashes as transformers exploded across town.
The building is undamaged but is without power and water, Wunderlich said. So far there are no known casualties among the church’s members.
Two miles southwest of the church building, the storm toppled a candle factory, Mayfield Consumer Products, where 110 workers were filling orders in the midst of the Christmas rush. One church member was in the candle factory, Wunderlich said, but was able to leave unharmed.
At least 50 people are feared dead, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said, after a devastating night of storms that stretched from Arkansas to Illinois.
Members of the Seven Oaks Church of Christ in Mayfield have lost homes and businesses, minister Tyler Alverson told The Christian Chronicle. The church’s building, in southeastern Mayfield, is undamaged but without power.
“We have some people who are bringing pre-made casseroles to the church,” Alverson said. “We’re unloading some generators so we can have power.”
Church leaders are in touch with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort. The Nashville-based ministry is sending trucks of relief supplies that should arrive Saturday evening, Alverson said.
The minister said he will speak with the church’s elders soon to confirm, but the church likely will have a worship service on Sunday.
“I think that’s what we need most right now,” he said.
The Northside church also plans to have Sunday worship, although church leaders are moving the meeting time to 3 p.m. to allow members to use the morning daylight to begin the long recovery process.
The church also plans to use its facility as a staging point for relief. Ohio-based Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team is en route to help those impacted by the storm.
Tornado warnings were issued in West Tennessee. Freed-Hardeman University shared this post from Jennifer Vega of the Henderson Church of Christ.
U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, a member of the University Heights Church of Christ in Bowling Green, Ky., posted the following message:
This story is republished from The Christian Chronicle.