A Church of God regional overseer shares the testimony of the generosity of the Church of God family and the effectiveness of relief efforts by individuals and organizations.
By Tony Cooper
Upon arriving in Bismarck North Dakota in June, 2011 for my first overseer appointment, I immediately went to work familiarizing myself with the ministers and area, preparing for North Central Region Camp Meeting scheduled a little later in the month. One morning, I was contacted by one of our Minot, North Dakota pastors. He was expressing concern to me about a possible flood in Minot. He stated his church was located on the Souris River and would be directly involved.
Camp Meeting was scheduled to begin on June 21. After hearing the reports of projected flooding, I made the drive to Minot that morning to speak with Pastor Travis Hovde of the Eagles Wings Community Fellowship Church of God. As we were standing in the sanctuary, we joined hands and prayed. I believe I felt the Spirit speak through me as I spoke to the pastor, “What the enemy intends for evil, God will turn into good. The end will be greater than the beginning.” Praise the Lord! I drove back to Bismarck and Camp Meeting began that evening.
On June 24, the city of Minot was flooded, filling the Eagles Wings Community Fellowship with over 7 ½ feet of water. It took days for it to recede. The interior of the building was destroyed, along with the homes of forty Church of God families. Twenty from Eagles Wings, and twenty from West Minot Church of God. There was devastation and destruction throughout the city.
Upon contacting our liaison for the North Central Region, then Assistant General Overseer, Mark Williams, I received immediate response to the need. Williams informed General Overseer Raymond Culpepper and the Executive Committee and an appeal was made to the Church of God family. Help began to come from various sources.
Operation Compassion arrived with thousands of dollars of needed supplies for sanitizing buildings, and items for day to day survival. The Operation Compassion tent was set up on the West Minot Church of God parking lot and for weeks. Under the direction of Pastor Jeff Heber, goods were distributed to those from all over the affected area. Men and Women of Action brought two bunk houses and left them on sight for several months. (One was just recently moved after the tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma). Working with Hugh Carver of MWOA, teams came from various states to assist with the church cleanup, and also cleanup in member homes. Volunteers from churches within the region also worked relentlessly in the cleanup effort.
Donations began to come in from our International Offices and from state offices and churches throughout the Church of God. Monies included an anonymous $200,000 gift brought to the Eagles Wings church office, and a $100,000 offering from Central Church of God, Charlotte N.C., and Pastor Loran Livingston.
For seventeen months, the Eagles Wings congregation met in local hotels for their weekly service. They moved back into the facility in November, 2012, with a minimum amount of completed space. This was an exciting day for the congregation, as well as visitors coming. It was a statement to the community that the church was back to worship in the building. In the months to follow, with the aid of several volunteers and some hired workers, the facility continued to be restored, and the attendance began growing.
[1]Rededication of Eagles Wings Community Fellowship - General Overseer Mark Williams (front row, center); on Williams left, Travis Hovde, Pastor Eagles Wings; next to Pastor Travis, Regional AB Tony Cooper; to right of Williams, Jeff Heber, Pastor West Minot Church of God (click photo to enlarge)
I am excited to report that on June 19, 2013, our regional camp meeting was held in Minot at the Eagles Wings church with General Overseer Mark Williams present to rededicate the building. It was a great evening of celebration.
There is still work to be done to complete all areas of the building. The growing church family is determined to complete the project. The families of West Minot and Eagles Wings who lost their homes are all in permanent housing with the exception of one family still residing in FEMA housing. Overall the city is coming back.
To date, a total of $477,424.04 cash donations have been received, and goods distributed by Operation Compassion, $257,840.00 for a total of $735,264.00. The North Central Region Disaster Relief Committee oversaw and approved distribution of funds received into the regional office. Distribution included $20,000 to West Minot Church of God, and $20,000 to Eagles Wings Community Fellowship designated for church families affected by the flood. The Eagles Wings congregation is happy to report that at this time, no funds have been borrowed toward the restoration process.
We are forever grateful for the excellent leadership of the Church of God, encouragement, financial support and gifts, time and efforts of all those who have blessed this region. It is an honor for Kathy and me to serve the ministers and laity of the North Central Region as part of this great Church of God family.
–Tony Cooper, Administrative Bishop, North Central Region Church of God