In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept through Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, wreaking havoc over several hundred square miles with dollar losses in the billions. Last month central Alabama suffered substantial damage when a tornado crushed the City of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and surrounding areas. On Sunday, Joplin, Mo., suffered devastating losses due to tornados and just yesterday, the central U.S. was hit by violent storms. When such destruction occurs, should we expect the government to step in and rebuild damaged areas or is the church capable of assuming such a huge role?
Bart Smelley, a resident of Tuscaloosa, Ala., is no stranger to destruction. For the past two years he has worked with Global Effects Ministry to manufacture and distribute water filters to the hardest hit areas of Haiti. He’s seen firsthand the most devastating destruction the western hemisphere has experienced in over a century, but now the destruction hit closer to home. In April, while on a mission trip in Haiti, Bart received word his son’s home had been hit by a tornado.
Smelley’s experience in Haiti rarely involved working with government agencies; Haiti’s agencies were all but incapable of providing any assistance. Instead, it was the work of church and non-profit groups that traveled thousands of miles to help the people of the Caribbean island.
Yet when Smelley arrived back in Tuscaloosa to help his son and daughter-in-law, he was amazed at the efficiency of government agencies and churches working together.
“The churches in Tuscaloosa responded hand-in-hand with government and relief organizations to meet the needs of our community. It’s the biggest joint effort I have seen in my life,” said Smelley.
Mark Engholm, Public Affairs Officer for the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, echoed Smelley’s comments.
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