Texas church serving neighbors following tornado

After a tornado touched down in the East Texas town of Franklin, members of the local Church of Christ jumped into action to serve their neighbors. 

That response didn’t surprise Blan Chrane, minister for the 150-member congregation. 

Blan Chrane

What did surprise him was the age of some of the helpers.

“We’re over here trying to collect stuff and help — and these little kids, whose parents dragged them up here, they just started helping, picking up limbs,” Chrane told The Christian Chronicle. 

“Little kids aren’t afraid to jump out of a bus with a bottle of water and a taco and help people,” he said.

The April 13 twister “was wrapped in a wall of rain that really muffled the sound,” Chrane said. At least 55 homes, four businesses and two church buildings were destroyed by the EF-3 tornado. 

It was on the ground for nearly an hour, tracking across more than 30 miles before dissipating, according to emergency management officials.

None of the church’s members lost homes, though a few sustained minor damage. 

Nonetheless, “any natural disaster is heartbreaking,” Chrane said.  

In the days following the tornado, the congregation in Franklin — about 100 miles northeast of Austin — worked with Churches of Christ Disaster Relief Effort to provide for the community’s needs.

“Little kids aren’t afraid to jump out of a bus with a bottle of water and a taco and help people.”

The building of the Franklin Church of Christ was not damaged, so members almost immediately gathered to cook meals for area residents. The church is accepting donations and collecting supplies to help with ongoing needs.

Power was out to the entire community of about 1,600 people. Generators allowed the church to keep its refrigerators running. Chrane said the congregation provided hot dogs, hamburgers and anything that could be cooked quickly to those who needed a meal.

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