Joplin Tornados - What Devastation!

The devastation in Joplin is unbelievable. When I see the pictures of the damage my mind struggles to take it all in. We have been near or in storms all year and I have been moved by the destruction and suffering of the people that are affected. But this storm feels different.

Maybe it is because we are so familiar with the area. We have been in the Wal-Mart, Lowe's Home Depot and many other of the businesses that were destroyed and where real people lost their lives. We have slept many nights in the parking lot of the Flying J that was hit. We have eaten in many of the restaurants that now are only rubble.

Or maybe it is because we know so many people that live in Joplin and very many more that live close and work or do business in Joplin every day. Their lives will be shaped for months and years by the tornado that lasted only a few minutes Sunday night.

Maybe this one feels different because we have friends who are there assisting in the recovery and clean up and we are hearing first hand, real time reports of the destruction and suffering.

Or maybe this one feels so different because the death toll has risen so fast and so high. Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said this morning that number had risen to 117. Others are reporting that is the highest death toll from a SINGLE tornado since 1953.

Very many moms, dads, spouses, brothers, sisters and little children will never forget May 22, 2011 because their loved ones were ripped away from them that day.

My guess is that all these things combine to make this tornado different in our hearts and minds. I know this much, I have been compelled to pray passionately, give liberally and do anything else I can to encourage those that can certainly use the boost right now.

Please join me in praying and giving. We never know when the tragedy may come to our door and then it is certain we will reap what we sow.

God Bless,

Davy

Sent from my iPhone

More Tornados-Oklahoma & Joplin, Missouri

Update: Added Pictures From Joplin Tornado Damage:

Yep, that's right more tornados. While we were in church tonight there were severe storms and tornado warnings all through this area. Several small towns here in eastern Oklahoma were hit hard and Joplin, Missouri took a direct hit as well with reports of several lives lost. Many folks are injured and life will be terribly disrupted for thousands of people. Please pray for the people in Oklahoma and southwestern Missouri.

We are fine here. There are reports of damage close by but we had church and all went well. This was the last night of revival and are sad to leave. We have enjoyed ourselves so much. We travel to Tulsa in the morning and start revival tomorrow night at Hale Station. Below you will see a few more pictures of the folks from Iron Post Church.

Pray for the tornado victims.

God bless,

Davy

Iron Post Holiness Church

Pastor Travis Martin and Bro. Kevin Webster

We are having a great time with Pastor Travis Martin and all the folks at Iron Post Holiness Church near Locust Grove, Oklahoma this week. We started revival Monday and are planning to close Sunday night. 

We have been blessed with a great amount of visitors each night and that has been a boost to the services. Several folks from the community have visited and some of them have been in the altar. That is very encouraging. The Churches in the area have been fellowshipping too and the Cheeks from Ohio even dropped in. 

Speaking of the altar services, I am so thrilled that God has been meeting us every night in the altar. It is so amazing to watch God transform lives when folks humble themselves and pray. He is waiting for us to turn to him and acknowledge our inability to help ourselves. We have witnessed first hand again this week what God can do when we do that. 

Praise God for his amazing grace! Please continue to pray for us here and in the coming weeks. We go from here to Tulsa and then Wichita. After that we go back to Tulsa for our first Tent Revival of the year. Please pray that God will prepare hearts even now to receive Him. There is no telling what God can do!

We have also been blessed to have Sis. Mona Buzzard with us two nights. Sis. Mona is the widow of Bro. Leon Buzzard. Bro. Leon was a great preacher that had a tremendous influence on many, many people including our family. It was so good to see Sis. Buzzard. She is in the picture below with Kelly Jo.

Not much phone service here let's see if I can actually post this. 

God bless,

Davy