I saw in the news of another Spring Tornado Disaster for 2006, which was in Dickson County. I was here one time when I attended a National Conference by here with folks from my local church.
Help Center assisting county's tornado victims
By Teri Burton
The Dickson Herald
The Dickson County Help Center is assisting a number of people who suffered loss during Friday�s F-3 tornado that hit the northern end of the county.
Help Center Director Dale Spicer said he is handling the tornado situation the same way the center organized assistance for evacuees from the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast last year.
Nashville Conference
"I want to know Chist and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resuurection from the dead."-Philippians 3:10-11
Each year, a group of men from "Outfitters for Adventure" missions team attend a faithbuilding, encourageing, and equipping conference retreat in Camp Garner Creek-Clarksville, TN (45 minutes west of Nashville). It's an annual gathering with several "new testament (non-deonimnational)" stream of network schurches from across the country. They include Master Builders, Ohio/Indiana/Michigan, and Truebridge Ministries (Morris Community Church is in this stream).
The conference gets about 100-150 and growing attendees anually. Below is just several websites I collected from the networks I made from this year's conference:
"I attended a retreat at Camp Garner Creek in Tennessee. During my quiet time with God, I video tape the beauty of nature around me in the hills over looking the camp. I read the story of the Transfiguration from the Book of Matthew 17. I then reflect my Heavenly Father's wonders in my life in the Spring of 2000"
*see Goodnews Everybody-Videos
"NASHVILLE, TN (ANS) -- One of the largest faith celebrations ever presented in Tennessee wrapped Sunday night, May 20th, at Riverfront Park in downtown Nashville after two days of the Luis Palau Nashville CityFest. Festival organizers set the weekend attendance at 90,000+.
World evangelist and author Luis Palau joined with over 300 churches, dozens of local and national businesses, and more than 3,000 volunteers to bring the “Great music & Good News” festival to Middle Tennessee. Some of the top entertainers in country, pop, gospel and contemporary Christian music performed, including LeAnn Rimes, TobyMac, Jeremy Camp, Tye Tribbett, Craig Morgan, El Trio de Hoy, Israel and New Breed, Steven Curtis Chapman, and BarlowGirl.
Palau’s festival format also featured the Livin It Action Sports Tour with skateboarding, BMX and freestyle motocross hosted by actor/filmmaker Stephen Baldwin, as well as a Family Fun and Sports Zone featuring players from the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. The festival was designated by Mayor Bill Purcell as an official event of the “Celebrate Nashville” Bicentennial.
An extensive community service component was implemented under the banner Operation Compassion that included health and fitness screenings and a food drive. Other projects included a “Helping Hands” weekend that brought churches together for dozens of acts of service, and outreach events that drew 700 attendees to a business and civic leader’s luncheon and 1500 women to a unique function staged on the Titans playing field.
Luis Palau on stage at Nashville CityFest
Palau, whose team has worked with the church and business communities of Middle Tennessee for over two years, was thrilled with the city’s response to Nashville CityFest.
The Team Faith freestyle motocross team jumped the Nashville skyline
“It’s clear why Nashville is ‘Music City USA’ with so many of our musical artists based right here,” he said. “The cooperation of city officials, the partnership with churches across denominations, the support of businesses and key leaders…what a tribute to this city that so many would come together on the streets of downtown Nashville to celebrate God’s love for all of us.”
The $2.25 million festival budget was funded entirely by contributions from corporations, churches, businesses and individuals under the leadership of co-chairs Stuart McWhorter and Louis Upkins and Honorary Chair and NASCAR star Darrell Waltrip. No collections or offerings are ever taken at Palau festivals.
Palau’s next U.S. festival is set for July 14-15 in Omaha. He will also be the featured speaker at major Christian music celebrations in Dallas and Atlanta, and on the worldwide broadcast of the Global Day of Prayer on May 27th.
The Oregon-based Luis Palau Association has brought the Gospel message to over 25 million people face-to-face in 70 countries. Luis Palau's daily radio broadcasts are heard by tens of millions of listeners on 2600+ radio stations in 42 nations. He is the author of close to 50 books, and his counsel on issues of faith has been shared with political leaders and heads of state around the world. Since 1999, his festivals have reached over 6.5 million people. "
Related Sites:
-Video Steven Curtis Chapman - Open the eye of my heart, from youtube.com "Festival de Luis Palau en Nashvilla, 19 de mayo del 2007"
Tye Tribbet - I got the victory
"Luis Palau Festival en Nashville, 19 de mayo del 2007"
"(CNN) -- Much of downtown Nashville remained under a blanket of murky water Monday after a massive system of rain and thunderstorms pounded much of Tennessee over the weekend.
The severe weather was blamed for at least 27 deaths -- 18 in Tennessee -- across the Southeast between Saturday and Monday, emergency officials said. Ten of those deaths occurred in Davidson County including Nashville, the Nashville mayor's office said.
Nashville residents said that despite forecasts of rain going into the weekend, they had little time to prepare for the floodwaters that crept into homes, washed away roads, prompted evacuations of hotels and displaced thousands of people.
"We all knew that there was going to be heavy rains this weekend, but Nashville normally gets about 5 inches of rain in the month of May and nobody could have predicted 15-16 inches of rain in 48 hours," resident John Rives said...
Though the sun re-emerged Monday, the floodwaters showed no sign of receding as the Cumberland River, which runs through downtown Nashville, continued to rise. The river was expected to crest at 52.5 feet by 8 p.m. Monday, more than 12 feet above flood level.
"NASHVILLE, Tenn. - According to TEMA, a strong line of super-cell thunderstorms struck Middle Tennessee on Feb. 5, 2008.
The cells developed tornadoes in several locations causing severe damage to multiple locations in seven counties from Shelby to Macon.
The Tennessee Department of Health reported 28 fatalities and over 149 injuries and one person missing.
Here are the breakdown of counties and their fatalities and injuries... Billy Graham Rapid Response Team Deploys to Nashville Following Historic Floods-
Chaplains Also Still Ministering in Haiti, Mississippi, By Michael Ireland
Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
Wednesday, May 5, 2010 " CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ANS) -- As the flood waters from the swollen Cumberland River spilled into Nashville during a record rainstorm that dumped 13.5 inches of rain in two days, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team began making plans to deploy in the face of the disaster.
Now, as the deluge recedes and the recovery begins in earnest, the crisis-trained chaplains are prepared to begin ministering to the emotional and spiritual needs of the survivors.
According to news reports, several people have died in Tennessee as a result of the storm, and authorities expect to find more casualties as the water levels decrease. Thousands of homes have been damaged, along with many of Nashville's major attractions.
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is deploying in coordination with Samaritan's Purse, the international relief organization headed by Franklin Graham, who is also president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Nashville, and especially with those who have lost loved ones in this tragic storm," said Jack Munday, director of the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team.
"At times like this, the survivors of the storm need hope and love, and need to know that they are not forgotten. Our team will come alongside the churches of the area, and those who are tragically affected, to provide emotional and spiritual care."
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is currently ministering in Mississippi (tornado) and Haiti (earthquake), and recently wrapped up deployments to Rhode Island (flooding) and West Virginia (coal mine explosion).
The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team is a nationwide network of chaplains across 40 states that are specifically trained to deal with crisis situations. Since the ministry was launched in 2002, it has deployed following dozens of natural and man-made disasters, including hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and shootings.
Meanwhile, a Brentwood, Tennessee-based, Christian ministry organization with 130 full-time missionaries, which helps provide 'home office' support for ministers who spread the Gospel through the arts, says they are fortunate to not have suffered as much in the recent rainstorm flooding as others in the area around Nashville.
"The office is fine; no damage. Chris Burnett and Larry Moshell are up there working today," said Rev. Byron Spradlin, founder and president of Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International (www.ACTInternational.org ) .
"None of the other office folks got any major damage at their places as far as I know, " Spradlin said in an e-mail update to staff ministers with the group.
"You can pray for Pam and me. I think you saw on the news that Nashville (and our suburb, Franklin) has been hit with the biggest rainstorm in the history of its record keeping.
"Fortunately for Pam and me only two little things hit us: I tried to get through some standing water on Saturday and my car engine got completely flooded. I have not been able to get it to the dealership to have things assessed -- so pray that I haven’t totaled it. Also, our house is on the side of a hill. The hill shifted a bit with all the rain, and our water main broke. So pray the fellow who can fix it gets here this afternoon."
Spradlin was without water for two days, however a repair person was working on the water pipe today, so the problem was expected to soon be resolved.
Spradlin said that A.C.T. Board Chair, Dr. Reuben Brooks "was totally flooded, and has been moved someplace; but I have not been able to connect with him yet. So that’s the news right now.
"Especially keep our Board Chair in your prayers," he said.
A.C.T. International is a ministry and missions sending board, which exists to mobilize and equip artistic and innovative ministers and missionaries for Christian work around the world.
Man on a Jet Ski Saves a Woman
"
Added On May 7, 2010
A Nashville woman owes her life to a man who rescued her from her home when it caught on fire. WSMV reports."
-Tornado
Tornado rips through Tennessee
(00:49) Report
"Feb 5 - High winds and tornadoes ripped through parts of Tennessee, causing power outages and widespread damage to property. Atleast 18 people are reported killed.
The severe weather even disrupted Tennessee's primary elections with officials shutting down polling stations in 4 counties for safety reasons.
Pavithra George reports. "
"JACKSON, Tennessee (CNN) -- Tornadoes and storms in the mid-South have killed 54 people since Tuesday evening in the deadliest tornado outbreak in the United States in more than 20 years.
The storms ripped apart homes and trapped residents of university dorms and a retirement home in debris.
The trail of death stretched across four states, with four people killed in Alabama, 13 in Arkansas, seven in Kentucky and 30 in Tennessee.
In some cases, there was almost no warning before the severe weather hit. "
Union University Tornado
"A slide show of the tornado damage to Union University in Jackson Tennessee by a tornado on February 5, 2008" Miracle amid the misery
Baby found alive in tornado debris offers hope for storm-ravaged South
BY BETH RUCKER and BILL POOVEY
Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 02/07/2008 11:43:45 PM CST (Pioneer Press-St. Paul) "CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. - At first, rescuers thought it was a doll. Then it moved.
In a grassy pasture strewn with toys, splintered lumber and bricks tossed by the tornado's widespread wrath, 11-month-old Kyson Stowell was lying face down in the mud, 150 yards from where his home once stood.
"It looked like a baby doll," said David Harmon, a firefighter. Then he checked for a pulse. "He was laying there motionless ... and he took a breath of air and started crying."
The field had already been combed once for survivors, and finding anyone alive seemed improbable. Hours after the storm, there was devastation everywhere: The body of the boy's mother was found in the same field, houses were wiped to concrete slabs and a brick post office was blown to bits. But except for a few scrapes, Kyson was fine.
At a makeshift shelter for storm victims at Hartsville Pike Church of Christ in nearby Gallatin, the Rev. Doyle Farris said the child was a reminder that people "should never give up, even in the midst of the worst storm."
"If you look, you can find an inspiration or a bright spot," he said. "The child will always be a reminder in this community of that message."
Kyson's story emerged as a tale of hope amid spectacular misery as residents in Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas tried to piece their lives back together after the nation's deadliest twister rampage in two decades killed 59 people....
...In Castalian Springs, there was good news to celebrate. Baby Kyson was discharged from a hospital and was in the care of his grandparents. He had scrapes and gashes on his cheek and by his big blue eyes, but otherwise was fine. Clinging to his grandmother, Kay Stowell, he fussed a little - something he normally does at naptime.
As word the tornado was coming spread through the community Tuesday, the Stowells called Kay Stowell's daughter, Kerri Stowell, 23, warning her to take cover. In a phone call with her fiance's sister, Kerri Stowell said she was bracing for the storm in the bathtub, clutching her baby to her side.
Later, the phone cut out as Kay Stowell and her daughter spoke. Then came an ominous voice mail - no words, just the sound of wind.
It took two hours for the Stowells to drive around the downed trees and power lines and make the 4-mile trip to Kerri Stowell's home - or what was left of it. It was during that time that rescuers Harmon and Karl Wegner decided to give the pasture one last look.
When the Stowells made it to the scene, the first thing Douglas Stowell saw was a firefighter holding the baby. Not long thereafter, another emergency worker showed Stowell a photo of a body found nearby. He confirmed it was his stepdaughter.
"If it had been both of them, I couldn't have handled it," he said.
Kerri Stowell's fiance, 22-year-old Charles Scott, believed she tried to keep her son safe as the storm closed in. "She would have given her life trying to protect that baby," he said.
Union University Tornado Mini Documentary
"
This video seeks to recount the events that occurred on Super Tuesday in Jackson, TN February 5th, 2008 to Union University.
A tornado touched down on campus destroying student housing and trapping students in the debris. Watch and see as the night and following days unfold in this documentary.
You can view a higher quality version at http://bloggeddownworld.blogspot.com/..."
-Minnesota Minnesota natives caught in tornado's destruction, Posted at: 02/06/2008 10:26:32 PM
By: Nicole Muehlhausen, Web Producer (KSAX) "Two Minnesota families are counting their blessings Wednesday after finding out that their children are safe. Anika Schulte and Will Sharpe, both of Woodbury, are students at Union University in Jackson, Tennessee—a college that was shredded overnight by a tornado.
That tornado was part of a string of violent storms and dozens of other tornados that touched down in several southern states, killing at least 52 people.
Two students at Union have families back in Minnesota. Their families, both in Woodbury, didn’t even realize severe weather was moving through and were shocked by the calls from their children.
Union senior Anika Schulte piled into a bathroom for shelter.
"Just as we got into the bathroom, it started shaking. The building started shaking and the ceiling tile started to fall," said Schulte.
"When the tornado passed, they opened the bathroom door to see their room gone," her father said.
Schulte, a nursing major, went into action and began to help victims.
"We kinda set up a first aid station, we started putting gauze on bleeding areas. There was a lot of glass in people's bodies, a lot of blood," she said. "We just went to work on rinsing and stabilizing, wrapping ribs and giving ice to broken arms."
Union University sophomore Will Sharpe knew a storm was coming and didn’t want his car to end up in a heap of rubble, so he went to a friend’s house.
"Probably ten minutes later I turned the news on after I'd gotten here and it said Union got slammed by a tornado," Sharpe said.
"When he said there was a tornado, I really thought he was kidding," his parents said.
When Sharpe went back to see what was left of his dorm room, he was shocked again.
"My room was just as I had left it. Everything outside of the room was a wreck. Just looked like a war zone over there," Sharpe said.
Both students and their parents point out that Union University is a small Christian-based College and are holding tight to their religious beliefs that God saved the students at the school. No injuries at Union University have been reported."
Tornado Survivor Talks of 4-hour ordeal
'A Union University student, trapped for 4 hours under the rubble of a dormitory, talks about their survival and sensing God's protection."
Related Sites: Union University ", a four-year, liberal arts, Southern Baptist university located in Jackson, Tennessee, USA."
" KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A gunman opened fire at a church youth performance Sunday, killing two people, including a man witnesses called a hero for shielding others from a shotgun blast.
Seven adults were also injured but no children were harmed at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church. Members said they dove under pews or ran from the building when the shooting started.
Congregants tackled the gunman.
Jim D. Adkisson, 58, was charged with first-degree murder and held on $1 million bail, according to city spokesman Randy Kenner, who did not know if Adkisson had an attorney.
The slain man was identified as Greg McKendry, 60, a longtime church member and usher. Church member Barbara Kemper told The Associated Press that McKendry "stood in the front of the gunman and took the blast to protect the rest of us."
Linda Kraeger, 61, died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center a few hours after the shooting, Kenner said.
Five people remained hospitalized, all in critical or serious condition. Two others were treated and released.
The gunman's motive is not yet known. The church, like many other Unitarian Universalist churches, promotes progressive social work, such as desegregation and fighting for the rights of women and gays. The Knoxville congregation has provided sanctuary for political refugees, fed the homeless and founded a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, according to its Web site.
Kemper said the gunman shouted before he opened fire.
"It was hateful words. He was saying hateful things," she said, but refused to elaborate.
The FBI was assisting in case the shooting turned out be a hate crime, Police Chief Sterling Owen said. Police were taking statements from witnesses and collecting video cameras from church members who taped the performance.
Authorities searched Adkisson's duplex in the Knoxville suburb of Powell on Sunday night. A bomb squad was called in as a precaution.
"In a situation like this we're not taking any chances," police Lt. Doug Stiles said. Police refused to provide any details about what they found.
Neighbors described Adkisson as a friendly man who would often work on his motorcycle outside and go on long rides on the weekends.
Melissa Coker, 44, said Adkisson had lived next door since she moved in four or five years ago. She said he had been a truck driver, but she didn't believe he had steady work in the last six months or so.
"He's just a really, really nice guy," Coker said.
Glenda Blair, 54, who also lives next door, said Adkisson did not seem like a threat.
The shooting started as about 200 people watched 25 children perform a show based on the musical "Annie."
Church member Mark Harmon said he was in the first row. "It had barely begun when there was an incredibly loud bang," he said.
Harmon said he thought the noise was part of the play, then he heard a second loud bang. As he dove for cover, he realized a woman behind him was bleeding. She looked like she was in shock, touching her wound, he said.
"It seems so unreal," Harmon said. "You're sitting in church, you're watching a children's performance of a play and suddenly you hear a bang."
Harmon said church members just behind him in the second and third rows were shot. His wife told him that she saw the gunman pull the shotgun out of a guitar case.
Witnesses reported hearing about three blasts from the .12-gauge shotgun, which spreads pellets when the shot leaves the barrel. Witnesses said they did not recognize the gunman.
Church members said the gunman was tackled by John Bohstedt, who played "Daddy Warbucks" in the performance. He declined comment when reached by phone at his home.
Friends of McKendry said he was friendly with everyone.
"Greg McKendry was a very large gentleman, one of those people you might describe as a refrigerator with a head," said member Schera Chadwick, whose husband, Ted Lollis, arrived at the church just after the shooting. "He looked like a football player. He did obviously stand up and put himself in between the shooter and the congregation."
McKendry and his wife had recently taken in a foster child.
The church's minister was on vacation in western North Carolina at the time of the shooting but returned Sunday afternoon.
"We've been touched by a horrible act of violence. We are in a process of healing and we ask everyone for your prayers," the Rev. Chris Buice said in a statement outside the church. "I will tell you we love Greg McKendry. We are grieving the loss of a wonderful man."
Associated Press writers Beth Rucker in Knoxville and Cara Rubinsky and Anna Varela in Atlanta contributed to this report.
-Shopping Mall
" KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A customer opened fire in a crowded shopping mall Wednesday afternoon, killing a clothing store employee before he was shot and wounded by police officers, authorities said. Witnesses said the gunfire sent people "stampeding" for cover.
The employee was shot multiple times around 4:20 p.m. after a confrontation with the suspect at Knoxville Center Mall, police spokesman Darrell DeBusk said. The store employee, 29-year-old Ahmed Nahl, died at the scene.
Two uniformed Knoxville Police Department officers confronted the customer as he left Reno Menswear store and exchanged gunfire, hitting him once in the arm and once in the leg, DeBusk said. No one else was hurt, and police recovered the suspect's handgun.
William Johnson, 42, of Knoxville, was charged with murder, aggravated kidnapping and two counts of attempted murder in the shootings, police said. He was taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center and was in stable condition.
The two officers involved in the gunfire were put on paid leave pending an investigation, as is standard procedure.
Witness Daniel Wiles, 34, said he saw a man about a hundred feet away with a handgun, heard nine shots and saw people begin fleeing for cover.
"I heard a single shot. Then immediately after that I heard eight additional shots. People started stampeding," said Wiles, who was at the mall to pay a cell phone bill.
Kay Jewelers assistant manager Cayla Corum said that before she heard gunshots a worker warned her to shut the gates to the store because of reports of someone carrying a gun in the mall.
"At first, it sounded like firecrackers going off," said Corum, 21. "Then everyone started running. ... I've never experienced anything like it in my life."
Corum said she heard two shots, a pause, and then "at least 15" shots.
The mall, owned by Simon Property Group of Indianapolis, closed early because of the shooting.
Mall manager Tim Hill said in a release that the company was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy, offered sympathy to the victim and his family and pledged full cooperation with authorities."
"Sometimes those of us in the church tend to do the same things over and over again because they've worked in the past. The author of this book served as a church leader and pastor for over 40 years and was always looking for new ideas for reaching out to the community and world to make a difference. It's true that what works in one community may not work in another; what excites some people may not inspire others. This Ebook is provided hoping it will spark new, fun and effective ways for your church to reach out to a hurting world."
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