Tennessee tornado stories

Tennessee is Church of Christ country.

The Volunteer State has roughly 200,000 adherents of the fellowship, according to a national directory published by 21st Century Christian, based in Nashville. That number is second only to the 300,000-plus men, women and children in the pews in Texas.

So when tornadoes cut an 80-mile swath of death and destruction across Middle Tennessee on March 3, the story was big news for readers of The Christian Chronicle.

Here are links to all of the Chronicle’s in-depth coverage:

• Volunteer State: After Tennessee’s deadly tornadoes, Churches of Christ play a crucial role in the disaster relief effort.

• After tornado, a teen grieves her 4-year-old friend: “You don’t ever think that’s the last time you’re going to see somebody,” Izzy Stevens says.

• Singing ‘Holy, Holy, Holy’ in memory of 2-year-old Sawyer: Toddler who died with his parents in the Cookeville, Tenn., tornado loved to praise God.

Memorial crosses near the March 3 tornado path in Cookeville, Tenn., pay tribute to 18 people — 13 adults and five children — killed in Putnam County. A 19th Cookeville-area victim later died.

• 13-year-old tornado victim ‘absolutely loved the Lord’: Tenn who attended a Church of Christ among those killed in Cookeville, Tenn.

• On Sunday after tornadoes, sadness gives way to gladness: Journalist reflects on covering the deadly tornadoes in Middle Tennessee.

• President Trump tours Church of Christ tornado relief center: Members of Tennessee congregation tell president, governor and U.S. senator about their efforts to serve the hurting.

• Tennessee church mourning the loss, helping neighbors recover: A couple who recently started attending a Church of Christ in Cookeville, Tenn., is among the victims.

• ‘Pray for comfort and peace and hope. We are hurting’: Family of three ‘were workers in the church and very strong Christians,’ fellow member of Tennessee congregation says.

Deanna Herald Speck and her husband, Tony, stand near what is left of her parents’ house in Cookeville, Tenn.

• Three more members of Churches of Christ confirmed dead in tornadoes: Amid the death and devastation brought by a tornado, a grieving Tennessee congregation still trusts in God.

• 4-year-old daughter of Tennessee youth minister among tornado victims: Death of Hattie Collins confirmed by Collegeside Church of Christ in Cookeville.

BOBBY ROSS JR. is Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Chronicle. Reach him at [email protected].

Filed under: Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort Cookeville disaster recovery disaster relief Inside Story Middle Tennessee Nashville National natural disaster Tennessee Tennessee tornadoes