Just an appeal for prayer....

As you may have heard, the cities in Eastern Iowa are getting unprecedented water from rainfall and earlier snowmelt. The rivers are beyond the 100-year flood levels and going into the 500 year. We in Iowa City/Coralville are getting clobbered, with all the sandbagging in the most initially vulnerable areas rendered useless. New Life Church is now in 3-4 feet of water and we are 'homeless'. Most of our material goods are in storage - thanks to dozens of volunteers and some quick thinking, but we are kind of reeling with the reality that things will no longer be the same. Operations are being handled out of people's home and cell phones, items are being stored in various places in the community and a temporary worship site has been found for 2-4 weeks, but that's about all the further out we can see.

So far, everyone is safe. Access around the city, however, is limited, due to bridge closings and the place is in a state of emergency.

Please be praying for all affected by this disaster - including the poor and lower income folks who were in inexpensive housing now under water. Also pray for the emergency crews and security people who are working around the clock. Also, remember us in prayer as we try to navigate this overwhelming event and stay together as a congregation.

As Judy Nyren said to me yesterday, "God will use this in a big way."

I believe that, too.

Yours in Christ,

John White

Dear friends,

The following is an update re: The Needs of those hit by this tornadoin and around Parkersburg, IA;

The Ways you and your church can respond and help.

The tornado that hit Parkersburg, New Hartford, Dunkerton... damaged or destroyed the homes and businesses of several families who belong to a number of our RCA congregations in the area. They are:

- Pleasant Valley RCA in Holland, IA; 6-8 homes lost, 6-8 homes damaged

- the Reformed Church in Stout, IA; 6-8 homes lost, 6-8 homes damaged

- First RCA in Aplington, IA; 6-8 homes lost, 6-8 homes damaged

- Bethel RCA in Aplington, IA 6-8 homes lost, 6-8 homes damaged

- Hope RCA in Parkersburg, IA 25-28 homes lost, 15-18 homes damaged

- Other area churches like Orchard Hill RCA in Cedar Falls, IA; Bridge of Hope RCA in Waterloo, IA have members who have been impacted by the storm as well.

The reason why so many of our RCA congregations have been affected by this storm is because these congregations have families who live in Parkersburgbut they belong to the above mentioned RCA churches outside of Parkersburg.

- Some of these RCA congregations also have members who are being treated at area hospitals.

- Three of the six people who died in the tornado were members of a CRC or RCA congregation.

- In addition, there are 20 to 25 businesses that were destroyed and with that, many members of our RCA churches are currently without employment.

- Most of these rural RCA congregations (including Hope) have less than 100 in attendance on Sunday morning. This means that 10% to 20% of their churches membership are suddenly displaced. In Hope, the figure is over 1/3rd to ½ .

These churches are doing their best to get their arms around the needs of those in their congregations and to reach out to those who do not have a church family to support them. The ramifications of the devastation are huge; financially - the churches paying their bills, providing  benevolent care to the hurting, seeking to carry out ministry in the midst of this loss and chaos. Just imagine the impact upon your own church if your congregationl ost 20% or up to 40+% of its membership to this loss.

Equally, imagine the powerful impact you and your congregation can make upon these families and congregations. Through the various means of grace such as your prayers, offerings, and physical labor; you and your congregation havea tremendous opportunity to be the body of Christ to these folks. Through your acts of love, you can be God's agents of grace, hope, and healing where there is so much discouragement, grief, and loss. Here's how:

A. Prayer:
These families and congregations need your prayers of encouragement and intersession. Scripture teaches us that the power of the Holy Spirit is unleashed when called upon. The Holy Spirit is in the business of  lifting up those who are hurting and broken/ We have seen God do this in times  such as this. Only God can bring forth the good from such a tragedy. That's his promise and our opportunity.

B. Physical labor and materials:
The affected RCA and CRC congregations have formed a Rapid Response Team. This team is comprised of representatives from the area RCA and CRC congregations. They will serve as the communication and temporary coordination link between the needs on the ground and those from the outside who want to help. Brenda Schipper, an elder at Hope RCA in Parkersburg has agreed to head up this team. Over the course of the next few days, the team will identify all of the people in their churches who need assistance and to assess what kind of assistance is needed. This team will also seek to identify unchurched people who may need help as well.

1. Cleaning out the homes in Parkersburg (and also in New Hartford): Brenda Schipper is the team leader. Her home number is 319 346-2249 and her cell is 319 404-2460. To volunteer as a helper in cleanup, please  contact her and please follow the tips outlined below.

2. Clearing out the debris in farm fields:

Miles upon miles of farm land has to be cleared before the fall harvest. The clean up of the fields is totally dependent upon the weather. This is a great summer project for young people who want to help.

The team leader in charge of scheduling work crews is T J Hanken. TJ is the area youth pastor in Aplington. His number is 319- 404-0417.Please Note: As long as it keeps raining every four or five days, please do not contact TJ about coming into the fields.

Below are the Directions to follow for all volunteers:

1. Register with the Butler County Sheriffs office. That number is 319-267-9111. Without proper registration, you will not be allowed past the check points. You will be asked 1) how many in your group, 2) what  skills you offer, and 3) what equipment you have available. This office may be able to direct you to places that need the most help or you may have to contact Brenda and get the details of where you can serve.

2. Contact either Brenda or TJ to organize the specific plans

3. Please be self sufficient by bringing in your own water, food, and tools. There is a nearby Arby's at the corner of Hwy 20 and Hwy 14.  There are a couple of local grills in Aplington - But it is best if you are  self sufficient.

4. If it is raining, please stay away completely.

Please Note:

1. Consider recruiting a volunteer coordinator in your church who will be the key contact person for your church group - who then can work with Brenda or TJ.

2. Stay tuned to the Synod of the Heartland website at

<http://www.heartlandsynod.org/> www.heartlandsynod.org . We will be using

the website to communicate needs and opportunities for service.

If you would like to serve on a team (or coordinate a team) that will be help later on this summer (and beyond) with the rebuilding phase of this recovery process, those efforts will be coordinated through our Reformed Church Worlds Services office (RCWS) and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). These agencies will help coordinate your strengths with the local needs on the ground. To enroll as a volunteer or to learn more, visit the RCA web-site at <http://www.rca.org/> www.rca.org and then click on to Reformed Church World Service; or you can call Mary Hondorp at  the RCA offices in Grand Rapids @ 1 800 968-3943.

C. Financial:

There are huge financial needs that are already surfacing among the

congregations hit by this storm. Here is what we know: The Red Cross,

Salvation Army, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and

insurance

adjusters are on the ground. They are helping as much as they can. We

also

already know that many individual families have sought help from their

churches benevolent funds to address immediate financial needs (which

can be

overwhelming) that they are facing. Given the size of these rural

churches

(100 to 200 members) and the fact that most of these churches have a

high

number of senior citizens who are on a fixed income, along with the fact

that up to 20% or more of their congregation's member families have lost

their home (or have sustained huge damage to their homes), we know that

these congregations and their members may not be able meet their needs

or

obligations let alone be of help to those in their communities.

At Hope RCA in Parkersburg, over 1/3rd of the church member families are

homeless. Their deacons know they will have to put on a new roof. They

know that a good number of the families who lost their homes are senior

citizens who are on fixed incomes. You get the picture.

Below are a number of ways you can financially help:

1. You can write a check to the Classis of Pleasant Prairie and memo -

"Disaster Relief". Checks and offerings can be sent to the stated

clerk and

treasurer Rev. Mel Voss at 712 3rd Ave. NE Belmond, IA 50421-1234.

Mel's

phone number is (641) 444-7150 and his email is:

<mailto:mcvoss@kalnet.com>

mcvoss@kalnet.com

The monies given to this fund will be managed by the Rapid Recovery

Team -

which is comprised of deacons from the area RCA and CRC churches that

lost

homes in the storm. In addition, this team will include a few deacons

neighboring RCA and CRC churches that did not suffer a direct loss. We

are

confident these individual leaders will be prudent stewards of the funds

given to the Classis.

If you wish to give directly to Hope RCA in Parkersburg, you can send

your

check to PO Box 208, Parkersburg, IA, 50665. The office phone is:

319-346-1575. Please memo your gift to be given to Hope RCA directly.

2. You can give to the RCA World Services (RCWS) fund. You can give by

logging onto the RCA website www.rca.org , go to the Reformed Church

World

Services page and then make a payment by credit card. You can send a

check

to RCWS at 4500 60th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49512. Offerings made to

the

RCWS will go directly to coordinate the relief efforts that are now

underway

and will continue all the way through the rebuilding phase of this

recovery

effort. You can follow the same process for giving to the CRWRC.

3. You can give to a special fund that will be created to manage the

rebuilding phase of this relief effort. A non profit will be created

with a

partnership between local civic leaders and the Parkersburg Ministerial

Alliance, of which Rev. Neal Ooms (pastor of Hope RCA) is the chair.

This

non profit will likely hire a rebuilding coordinator who will coordinate

with all parties the rebuilding phase of the recovery process. Make

your

check out to "Parkersburg Ministerial Association" and mail to PO Box

208,

Parkersburg, IA, 50665.

4. You can also give to the local Disaster Relief Fund sponsored by

Lincoln Savings Bank, 932 Parrott, Aplington, IA, 50604, 319-347-2305.

This is our opportunity to be a part of the good that God intends to

bring

through this tragedy. May God bless you for your generosity as you

respond

to the needs and opportunities that have emerged through this tragedy.

Sincerely, Jim

This is from Bob and Dort Kampman. Bob serves on BOH's Sponsoring/Supervisory Team...

Hi all-

Just a note to let you know all is well-grandpa Kampman (bob's dad) had successful surgury on his left lower leg this evening-both bones were shattered, so the doc put in a plate and some pins to try to hold it together--if all goes well this evening, they hope to take him off the ventilator tomorrow. he has a long rehab ahead-probably 4 months of rehab w/no wt bearing to that leg--please pray with us that there will be good healing, no infection, minimal or no pain, & patience! andy met the man today that called for the ambulance-we think dad was sucked out of the house as he was coming back up the stairs, thinking the danger was past, when the tornado actually at just that time hit his house, taking the whole thing right down to the foundation,including the basement stairs, which claas was on at the time--the neighbor found him slumped over by a tree beside his house--he was one of the 1st to be evacuated, thanks to the neighbor, & we are so thankful for that. He is responding w/nods, so we think his mind is fine-- our pastor stopped by this evening, & said we have at least 22 families from our church that lost either all or part of their house--so please keep these folks in your prayers as well-- thanks so much for your prayers & words of encouragement! love, Dort Kampman

Mike Brost & I were able to visit with Herman Luhring and his family last night at the Grundy Hospital before he was transferred to Iowa City.

Herman's daughter, Pam Van Hauen, is a member of Orchard Hill. I got a

message about a half hour ago from Pam's daughter. Herman is in the surgical ICU. He has sustained some injuries to his vertebrae, but the no spinal cord injuries or internal injuries. He's being watched carefully, but the family is optimistic. Herman & his wife, Shirley, made it to the basement and were in each other's arms when the tornado hit.

Tragically,

Shirley didn't survive.

Doug Tensen

Also,

Apparently Bob Kampman's dad is also in critical condition in the hospital, his home destroyed. No details, I heard this via their son Curt, in Africa.

Vance ElzingaNeal and Lyn Ooms want to thank you all for your prayers.

They say it is a

miracle how over 200+ homes and 20 business buildings could be destroyed and 200 more sustain some damage - yet not have more fatalities. The Red Cross and Presbyterian disaster team... are on the scene. Lyn said that 19 parishioners have no houses left. She says that there are many more who have homes that need work before they can move back in. It sounds like everyone found place to sleep - most have gone to stay with families.

As a

volunteer EMT, Neal has been responding to injuries all day, and offering spiritual care to many members of the Hope Church and community.