I have been overwhelmed with the outreach of support for our community and church family after Tuesday’s tornado destroyed our church building.  It has been a tough couple of days – so many have told me that they feel helpless because they want to help but don’t know how to help.

Here is your opportunity the help our church and community rebuild.

Here are 5 ways you can support our church right now.

1. Prayers.

First and foremost, we need your prayers right now.  Specifically, please pray for:

• Our church and Early Education Center staff that they can find rest and care in the midst of chaos and stress
• For the safety of everyone who works to help
• For long-term encouragement to our church family as we struggle to rebuild
• For the ministries of the church to continue and strengthen as we rebuild our facilities
• For the children and people who were traumatized by this storm
• For our groundskeeper and master gardener Dave as clean-up work begins
• That God be glorified and that we can continue our mission of spreading the love of Jesus Christ to our community for the transformation of the world.

2. Presence.

Our building is down, but the Church (that’s us!) is still going.

You can support our church by being there physically. Temporarily, our Sunday worship services and Sunday school are being held in the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Arlington located on the I-20 Service Road near Kelly Elliott Rd.  The Preschool is meeting at Tate Springs Baptist Church.  In the weeks to come, your presence at worship services and church ministry events will be more vital than ever.  Visit the church’s website to stay up to date on where you can be.

3. Gifts.

Financial Need: While the church’s insurance will end up covering a lot of our rebuilding costs, we still will need help financially to rebuild our church.  You can send donations by check made out to St. Barnabas UMC and designated “Rebuild” to 5011 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd., Arlington, TX 76016.  

Or you can donate online: http://sbumc.org/online_giving.html

Give to our Community: Hundreds of homes in our area were damaged this week, many families lost much of their household goods.  You can help by donating food, clothing, furniture, diapers, wipes, hygiene items, household goods and cleaning supplies to Mission Arlington, 210 W. South St., Arlington, TX 76010.  Specifically, I have learned that local food pantries need staples like peanut butter and canned goods and local families need children’s clothing.

4. Service.

UPDATE: ANYONE FROM ST. BARNABAS MEMBERSHIP who wants to volunteer, please call first to sign up or text your name and number to 682-888-6980. 

IF YOUR HOUSE WAS DAMAGED AND YOU NEED HELP WITH TRASH AND DEBRIS REMOVAL, call or text 817-505-5154 for Arlington and Kennedale residents who need help. We will do what we can to help arrange teams of volunteers to help.

Find time to volunteer to support our church’s ongoing ministries, such as the Open Arms Free Health Care Clinic.

5. Witness.

We need you to tell the world about God’s amazing work being done.  This is Easter season – there is no better time to share the Good News that Christ is Risen.  He is alive today and He is here to protect and guide us.

More than 80 preschoolers, their teachers, church volunteers and our church staff were inside the walls of St. Barnabas when a tornado destroyed much of our building.  In fact, seventeen confirmed tornados damaged homes, property, businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth area on Tuesday, April 3.  

No one died.

Since the tornado, hundreds of people from around the country and from all denominational backgrounds have stepped up to help.  

No matter our denominational differences, we are all Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  You can help by telling others about how the Body of Christ works together.  Tell others about God being glorified in the midst of a tough situation.  Help as many people as you can as much as you can, all for the glory of God.

You can help by sharing what is needed with others you know would want to help.

We are the Church.  Our building is down, but we still stand.

 

(photos taken by Jayme Philp & Erin Jackson)