Disciples Volunteering planning mission stations for Iowa flood recovery (7/3/08)

From DisciplesWorld Magazine:


By Rebecca Bowman Woods, DisciplesWorld news editor



CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (7/3/08) — Disciples volunteers will play a role in Iowa’s flood recovery effort, with mission stations open and ready to receive groups as soon as August, said Carl Zerweck, head of Disciples Volunteering.


Much of the state experienced flooding in June from heavy rains, especially eastern Iowa. The Cedar Rapids and Iowa City areas were hit especially hard.


In Cedar Rapids, floodwaters swamped downtown businesses, and many residents had to evacuate their homes. At Cedar Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the water rose to around 7 feet on the ground floor of a new building. The sanctuary also flooded. Disciples from area churches have been pitching in to help with clean-up tasks like tearing out drywall and sorting through damaged and ruined items.


Don Hiscox, associate regional minister for the Disciples’ Upper Midwest Region, said on June 23 that at least 60 families with ties to Iowa congregations were affected by the flooding. Week of Compassion has provided $40,000 for the regional office to distribute so far, he said.


On June 26, Hiscox and Zerweck were in Cedar Rapids for meetings with Iowa pastors and church members. Several congregations are interested in becoming mission stations to host work groups from outside the area, Zerweck said. Mission stations are an integral part of the denomination’s rebuilding initiative in the Gulf Coast following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and in Greensburg, Kan., where a tornado struck last May.


The Iowa congregations must consider whether they can take on the responsibilities that go with hosting volunteers — like providing sleeping facilities, showers, and an area for groups to prepare meals. Several churches are making that decision this week, Zerweck said.


At this point, Zerweck said, governmental and recovery agencies are still formulating long-term recovery plans. That includes deciding whether to utilize volunteers and if so, what their role would be. These details must be worked out before Disciples Volunteering can announce the new mission stations and start signing up work groups.


Unlike the Gulf Coast, where groups can work year-round, Iowa’s winter weather will complicate the rebuilding process. Zerweck said volunteers could be working in Iowa as early as next month, but by November, cold temperatures, ice, and snow will probably force Disciples Volunteering to stop taking groups until spring.


Robert Kunz, senior pastor of Marion Christian Church near Cedar Rapids, said the recovery will be more like a marathon than a sprint.


That’s a hard realization for people in the area. Residents and business owners want to get in and start working, but they can’t do so until the damage has been assessed. And as they go through the grieving process, anger and pain are replacing the initial shock.


Some pastors are out walking the streets, “visiting with people and letting them vent,” Kunz said.


Cedar Christian’s members have been worshiping at First Christian Church in Cedar Rapids. The churches were already sharing a minister, Fred Darbonne. First Christian is also hosting Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church’s congregation since the flood.


Read more...

Photo credit: Volunteers clean up a grocery store owned by a member of Noelridge Christian Church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photo: Noelridge Christian Church