Alabama
Six students survive tornado inside devastated Alabama church building
Carl Naylor started to pray, but he managed just two words before the twister came.
“By the time he said ‘Dear Lord,’ our ears started popping, and hairs stood up on your arms,” said Caleb Durden, a member of the Central church. “Glass was hitting us in the head. Debris. We had glass and rust and just pieces of metal in our hair.”
The students — all active with the Tide 4 Christ campus ministry — couldn’t hear anything as the storm drowned out the heavenly plea of Naylor, whose home congregation is the Forrest Park Church of Christ in Valdosta, Ga.
“The old saying is, ‘A tornado sounds like a freight train,’” said Andrew Broadfoot, who calls the Beltline Church of Christ in Decatur, Ala., home. “Well, it almost sounded like 10 freight trains. We were lucky that that room held.”
After about 15 to 20 seconds, the noise quieted.
The students — who also included Kyle Henderson and Caleb Bradford, from the Austinville Church of Christ in Decatur, Ala., and Justin Miller, from the Wetumpka Church of Christ in Alabama — opened the closet door.
Broadfoot said he looked to the left, where the church’s family life center used to be.
“It was completely destroyed,” he said, “and that’s when we realized how bad it was.”
Said Durden: “Where walls were, they were no more. There was a roof in one guy’s car. Windows were all busted out. It was unbelievable.”
The Central church building and its Tide 4 Christ student center are — or were — about a mile south of the University of Alabama campus. Membership, including campus ministry students, totals about 300. The campus ministry serves students from Stillman College and Shelton State Community College as well as the University of Alabama.
Tuscaloosa was among the hardest-hit communities by a swath of tornadoes that killed 329 people across six states, the nation’s deadliest tornado outbreak since the Great Depression.
Trae Durden, Caleb’s brother and the Central campus minister, lives about 15 minutes from the church building with his wife Leann and two children, Darcy, 8, and Dalton, 5. He had rushed home to be with them when the storm hit.
An end-of-year party had been planned at the student center that night, but it was canceled because of weather concerns. The six students there were doing homework, practicing music or just hanging out. Trae Durden said he texted them right before the tornado to warn them to take cover in the closet at the church.
“They went through a lot,” Trae Durden said of the students. “They said it was like sandpaper. The roof did crack. They had wind coming in there.. … They’re all real red and scratched up. They didn’t (get) cut terribly bad. They didn’t get injured. One of them had a nail in his foot. That’s the worst of it.
“It was a close call. It was bad,” he added. “I wish they had gone in there (the closet) earlier. You just never know about these things. You don’t know what’s going to get hit.”
In the wake of the tornado, the Central church building appears to be a total loss, he said.
“There are a few cinderblock walls still standing,” he said of the building. “The room where they were is still standing. But everything looks like spaghetti. It’s just all twisted up. It’s ridiculous. Lots of debris.”
But the campus minister said neither he nor Central’s elders are worried about the building. It’ll be bulldozed and rebuilt, he said.
The big concern right now, Trae Durden said, is helping the hurting, distraught tornado victims in Tuscaloosa and elsewhere.
Campus ministry students and Central church members — with help from Churches of Christ from near and far — are working to feed tornado victims and provide bottled water.
Mike Baumgartner with Disaster Assistance CoC, a feeding ministry overseen by the Lake Jackson Church of Christ in Texas, arrived Thursday night and started cooking.
“We will be serving food from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the church parking lot,” Baumgartner said.
The Central church is accepting donations for rebuilding and benevolence needs related to the tornado. Donations can be sent to the church. Find the address on the church website.
“A group of us loaded up an SUV yesterday (Thursday) and took food around, and water,” Caleb Durden said. “The people were so thankful. The sad thing is, these children running around. You know, they don’t have a home around. A lot of people are just dazed. You walk around and see people just sitting there. They don’t know what to do.”
Kaysie Durden Routh, a member of the Hazlehurst Church of Christ in Georgia, is Trae and Caleb’s sister.
She’s been communicating with her brothers from her home in Uvalda, Ga.
“They are my little brothers, but they are strong men of God,” Routh said in an e-mail to The Christian Chronicle.
“They are very concerned about the people who live in the homes surrounding the church building,” she said of her brothers. “Many of the homes are destroyed, and some of the people have not been located yet.”
Routh offered this additional message for fellow Christians: ““My brothers and other church members have been trying to help the people of the neighborhood today. Please continue to pray for the efforts of the rescue and recovery teams. We are very thankful to God that (my brothers) were spared, but there are other families who are hurting now and some who do not know if their loved ones are OK or not.”
Do you know of members killed or injured — or church buildings damaged or destroyed — in the tornadoes? Do you have photos that you’d like to share? Please leave comments with detailed information.
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FeedbackWe have seen the damage the tornado has done to your church and surrounding area. We pray for you to have miraculous help in rebuilding. Bless you!Norma GwinElk Grove C of CSacramento, Ca.
U.S.A.May, 4 2011My neighbor found in her yard Friday a 1998 phone bill from the Bethel Church, a picture, and two or three notes. We will be trying to make connection with these brothers and sisters. I’m at 931-728-7909, if someone from that congregation would
like to contct us. A note to a teacher -Barbara Walker – is one of the finds. Our prayers are being offered on behalf of all affected.Linda Allmon WaldenNew Union Church of ChristManchester, Tennessee
USAMay, 2 2011We are praying to our God for you. Just remember God is shaking things so you might learn to live by faith and not by sight.he wants to build your life on the permanence of the eternal, not on the instability of the temporal. Look to Jesus Christ and be Confident. (Heb.13:5)
Minister: Mervyn Pasqualle.Mervyn PasqualleEastridge Church of ChristMitchell’s Plain, Cape Town
South AfricaMay, 2 2011The Bethel church of Christ in Athens, Alabama lost their building, annex, and preacher’s home in the storm on April 27. Thirty people were inside the basement of the annex, but none were injured. Several members lost their homes in the storm. Thankfully only one member was injured, and he was not seriously hurt. Christians in the area are already rallying to help Bethel and other congregations. Please pray for everyone in the state of Alabama.David O’ConnellOliver church of Christ, Rogersville, ALRogersville, AL
USApril, 30 2011I lived in Lubbock Tex. in 1969, when it was hit by the same type of storm. I know how it feel to be in that type of storm, my prayer and the prayers of our congregation is for all who were in this storm. you can’t realize what impact it has on the mind. we are asking for God help in restoring this city and these people who live there may God bless you.JERRY NORRIS, MINISTERFOURTH AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRISTDallas, Tex.
USAApril, 30 2011The leaders of the Central COC in Tuscaloosa have asked The Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team (DRT) to come in and set up the Command Center. DRT will be working directly with the Central,University and Northport congregations.
2 tool and supply semis, mobile kitchen, shower/laundry trailer, several enclosed tool trailers will be brought as well. We are in need of volunteers and funding. Please register on the DRT website. www.churchesofchristdrt.orgLaura CremeansMelbourne Church of ChristWest Melbourne, Florida
USAApril, 30 2011The building of the Bethel church of Christ in Athens, Alabama was destroyed by a tornado on 4/27/11. They are going to worship on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 in the West Hobbs Street church of Christ building in Athens.Melba O’ConnellOliverRogersville, AL
USApril, 29 2011I received this note from Churches of Christ Disaster Relief:
The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort of Nashville, TN is already shipping semi-truck loads of relief supplies to churches in AL, GA, MS, and TN following the devastating tornadoes of this past Wednesday. These efforts will continue in the coming weeks and months. We have also responded previously to tornadoes in MO, NC and VA and flooding in NJ.
We need you to join us in this effort. You can pray for the victims and their families; the churches in the areas that are assisting people with compassion, love, and mercy; and for our staff and volunteers who are working diligently in this effort.Bobby Ross Jr.The Christian ChronicleOklahoma City, OK
USAApril, 29 2011We also need your financial support. Any amount you and/or your congregation can make will bring relief and comfort to many people. You may go to our web site www.disasterreliefeffort.org for more information and how to make a donation. You may also call 1-888-541-2848, Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Please pray about this and do what you can do.
If you need more information you may call me at 1-615-476-1777 or the toll free number above.
Sincerely in Christ,
Dwane CasteelBobby Ross Jr.The Christian ChronicleOklahoma City, OK
USAApril, 29 2011This is the best video I’ve seen of this horrific tragedy. It should be sent to NBC NewsRuel Dean CatlettNewport Ave. COCBend, Oregon
USApril, 29 2011
MALAWI