Statement on the Tornadoes That Hit Missouri and Kentucky

By Mark Anderson, NBA President & CEO

Dear Friends,

As you may have heard, a devastating storm system swept through St. Louis and parts of Kentucky late Thursday night into early Friday afternoon, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

We want to begin by sharing this update posted by Week of Compassion with more details and ways you can help. Your prayers are deeply appreciated, and donations can be made through their online giving page, designating “US Storms & Fires”.

Union Avenue Christian Church sustained significant damage, particularly to their roof and the east side of the building. Our NBA offices, located within the church, were also impacted – windows shattered and storage areas destroyed. By God’s grace, no staff were harmed. However, for the foreseeable future, our St Louis based staff will be working remotely, as we begin the long road of repair and restoration.

In conversation with our NBA Board Chair, Rev. Dr. Jacque Foster, who also is a member of Union Avenue Church and is the contract site-coordinator for Be the Neighbor this summer, she offered the following reflections: “As devastating as the glass everywhere and the structural damage to the building, we are so grateful that people associated with our various ministries (Union Avenue Christian Church, Be the Neighbor, and the NBA) were not hurt during the storm. Our spirits are strong and we will move forward. Our hearts our broken and our prayers of support go out to the family of Disciples leader, Pat Penelton, and the community at Centennial Christian Church, as well as all the people across St. Louis, who are dealing with the devastation of the storm.”

We grieve alongside the members of Centennial Christian Church, which suffered catastrophic damage. Most tragically, we join with many Disciples that mourn the loss of Pat Penelton, a beloved member of the church and broader Disciples Church. As Rev. Derrick Perkins shared in The New York Times:  “I was in disbelief – heartbroken. Not only for the church, but for the entire community.”

If you have any words of encouragement, questions, or need support, please reach out to us at NBA@nbacares.org. Even in the midst of loss we are grounded in our call to care for one another. We ask for your continued prayers and grace as our community begins the work of rebuilding and healing.