Oklahoma Conference Responds to Tornado Disaster
SULPHUR, OKLA. – On April 27, 2024, a tornado with EF3 strength moved through Sulphur, Okla. This tornado caused great devastation in the downtown area. Many buildings were heavily damaged and destroyed, including homes, businesses, historic buildings and other property. Some buildings even collapsed. Many families with children lost everything and had to be placed in shelters. I can imagine one who went through it at that time may have thought, “I would hurry to my place of shelter, far from the tempest and storm” Psalm 55:8. Many survived, but one person died. “This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed” Lamentations 1:16.
Did the enemy prevail? Did God hear a cry such as this? “But as for me, I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; you are my God, do not delay” Psalm 40:17. The Lord heard and sent many to help. He sent the Red Cross. He sent residents from the city of Sulphur. He sent government workers. He sent church organizations. And He also sent His remnant church.
The call went out to the members of the Oklahoma Conference, and they responded to the call of the Lord God. Donna Hill, Disaster Response Leader of the Arbuckle Seventh-day Adventist Church, led the way as she is well experienced and also has close connections with the Red Cross. She is a knowledgeable and poised leader who knew what needed to be done: she needed care packages containing items such as towels, toothpaste, toothbrushes, washcloths, deodorant, combs, razors and shampoo. As messages were sent out to the membership of the Oklahoma Conference, donated items and monetary donations poured in. The love for people, the willingness to help people in need and the swiftness to the battle were tremendously demonstrated by the members of the Oklahoma Conference. Some of our churches organized packages to be sent, as did some of our schools—including the students. Some individuals also organized packages, while others gave monetarily to help. About 600 care packages, which included Adventist literature, were sent to help. Though the need had been met, our members, empowered by the Holy Spirit, wanted to send more. It reminded me of this text: “Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more” Exodus 36:6.
The Southwestern Union also helped in a powerful way by providing the people of Sulphur with 300 Adventist Community Service (ACS) Disaster Relief buckets filled with items for emergency use. Our union ACS Directors, Bo and Deborah Gendke, are patient leaders who are willing to teach and provide what we need to be successful in the Oklahoma Conference. May the Lord use all of us in a magnified way, knowing we are told that disasters will continue in these last days just before the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
By Marlowe and Melshara Parks
ACS Directors
