Training Session Announced

MNA Disaster Response TAG Region has opened registration for a training session in the Huntsville, Alabama area. The Disaster Response training session will be held Saturday, September 24 at North Hills Church in Meridianville. Topics to be covered include:

• MNA Disaster Response: Who we are and what we do.
• Why We Do Mercy Ministry and Disaster Response
• Breakout Sessions: Mucking, Chainsaw Safety, Roof Tarping, Site Coordination, more...
• Roles and responsibilities of a Key Leader
• How to Get Involved

The training will take place from 8:30 am until 2:00 pm and will cost $25.

Click here to register.

Thanks to Smoky Mountain Presbyterian Church

I enjoyed a good morning with the men of Smoky Mountain Presbyterian Church in Maryville, TN on Saturday, April 30. After a good breakfast, we took some time to discuss MNA Disaster Response by sharing ten ways they can become involved in the ministry. Thanks to Rev. Bill Fikes for the invitation and to Ron and Bev Dalia for opening their home to me on Friday evening.

Please let me know if your church (or any subset thereof) would like to have a similar visit. I would love to visit with you to share ideas for how you can show Christ's mercy by serving those whose lives have been disrupted. Simply email me to discuss your needs and open dates.

May Newsletter Available

The May MNA Disaster Response TAG Region Newsletter is now posted online and has been emailed to our supporters. If you are not on our email list please sign up on the right column of this page. This month's email features articles on:

• Christ Community Cobb at MNA Warehouse
• Save the Date - Disaster Response Training
• Thanks to Smoky Mountain Presbyterian Church
• Budget Update

Newsletters are published at or around the first of each month. 

5th Anniversary of April 27, 2011 Tornado Outbreak

After multiple tornadoes ripped through the South on March 27, 2011, our oldest son (who was, at the time, a communications student at the University of North Alabama) and our youngest son drove around our area and captured video of the destruction. The result was this video, which gives you a good idea of what the destruction was like.

April 27, 2011 EF5 Tornado

With only a few days left until the 5th anniversary of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak, I thought I would share this video that shows the formation of the largest of the tornadoes that hit our county.

Upcoming 5th Anniversary of April 27, 2011 Southeast Tornado Outbreak

In some ways it seems like yesterday and in other ways it seems so long ago. In less than a week we will observe the fifth anniversary of the April 27, 2011 tornado outbreak that claimed 35 lives in my home county of DeKalb (Alabama). Over the next several days I will share some news reports, some photos, some videos and some reflections from that day.

In this first installment, I'll share some photos from a website that shows some of the damage sustained from the EF-5 tornado that tore through our county. Click here to visit the site.

This is a video capture taken in front of Pruett Jewelers in Rainsville, Alabama as the tornado was forming. I get chill bumps every time I see this video.