Following are releases directly from the web sites from these two churches. Help one (or both would be fine too).

From New Creation EPC
A tornado, more than a mile in diameter, destroyed more than 70% of Joplin, Missouri last Sunday evening. New Creation EPC (Cliff Mansley, pastor) is located just two blocks from one of the worst hit areas. Fortunately, they were spared major damage and now New Creation is helping to coordinate disaster relief efforts for the survivors. Click here for a more detailed article. (This is definitely worth reading – Ed.) [Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]

Donations to the General Assembly’s Tornado Relief Fund on or after May 25, 2011, unless designated otherwise, will go to the relief effort coordinated by New Creation EPC. Please give generously either by credit card at http://www.epc.org/tornado-relief/ or by check payable to “Evangelical Presbyterian Church” and designated “Tornado Relief” to:
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Attn: Tornado Relief Fund
17197 N. Laurel Park Dr. Ste. 567
Livonia, MI 48152

From Christ the King PCA

Some of the following information is pretty general. But feel free to check back here and scroll down to see updates as to what is happening and where and possible needs that we are seeking to meet. This is not a blog where we are reporting our actions and telling our stories, this is simply for posting information.

Thank you for your concern about our community and our church. First of all, we praise God that all our members are all accounted for and safe. The impact of this storm will continue for months and possibly years; several people in our small church saw their place of employment blow away. Our community is definitely in distress and our church will likely have several needs in the coming weeks and months.

Supplies are flowing into Joplin at an incredible rate and in some cases overloading various distributers. Our church is not receiving clothing or food at this time. If you want to donate and have a lot of stuff, a good idea may be to have a yard sale and send proceeds to the church.

Prayer Requests
Of course, more than anything we need your prayers. Seven to nine inches of rain fell in the 24 hours following the tornado and storms keep rolling through. It hailed on us the evening we unloaded water at the church! All of us are in God’s hands at all times, but we feel it very powerfully right now. We need his care more than we need anything else. Here are some ways you can be praying…

• Pray that God will spare us from future storms.
• Pray that God will show us how we can best serve our neighbors – we are small church with few resources.
• Pray that God will heal those who are hurt, find those who are lost, and rebuild the lives that have been shattered.
• Pray that we will have opportunities to share the hope and joy of the gospel to those we serve.
• Pray for a sense of assurance; that even we Christians will believe God is truly good and has his purposes in the worst disasters. This storm seemed extra ruthless – it took out three schools, a hospital, at least one nursing home, and a center for mentally handicapped.
• Some in our church have lost their jobs for the foreseeable future and rental properties that provided income.

Opportunities to Serve
The PCA is providing disaster relief work for groups to come and join us as we help Joplin heal. If you are interested in having a group come here and serve, there are two ways to do it.

• Register through the MNA page.
• Email the church at: [email protected]

Opportunities to Give
One of our most specific needs in the coming months will be financial help. As mentioned, people in our church have probably lost their jobs. We would like to provide for their needs as best we can and we may need financial help in covering the lost income of our church. All moneys collected both through the PCA and Christ the King will be used for disaster relief and helping our people, church, and community rebuild.

You can give to the church in two ways…

• Donate to our church with “Relief” in the Memo — Our address: 1122 Illinois Ave, Suite 106 / Joplin, MO 64801
• Donate electronically at the MNA website.

The Details
5/25 Update – the church currently has electricity and we will be meeting at the following times.

• We will be having a time of sharing and prayer at 6:30 on Thursday evening (5/26)

Our Sunday morning worship time will remain the same – at 10:30 am.

[Editor’s note: One or more original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid; those links have been removed.]