WASHINGTON, Ill. – Ben Davidson took pretty extensive notes about the deadly tornado that hit Washington ten years ago Friday.
Davidson is Associate Pastor at Bethany Community Church in Washington – which, at the time, was holding services at Five Points in Washington. Sunday School was underway when it was determined shelter needed to be taken.
Davidson says after a full day of volunteering and helping in the aftermath, he had time to think.
“(During) a moment Sunday night as I was riding my son’s bike back to my home after being at Five Points, going back and forth a little bit…I had helped down in Slidell, Louisiana with Hurricane Katrina relief. I saw First Baptist Church of Slidell, Louisiana doing the very thing of bringing in volunteers, sending people out to help – not only their church folks, but the people of Slidell,” said Davidson.
Davidson says it was then he determined that his church could do the very same thing for Washington. His and other churches would go on to help the community recover for months.
“Our church, along with the Five Points staff, turned the gymnasium there…into a kind of help center, as people were walking in with no shoes on, maybe carrying their pet, that’s all they had left,” said Davidson.
Davidson does say most of his church’s operations were put on “pause” in order to help the community recover from the tornado, except for one thing.
“Our Sunday morning worship service,” said Davidson. “We knew that was going to be important for us to gather as a church body to worship the Lord, and give thanks, and have that focus on the Gospel and God.”
It can be hard to comprehend how something good could come from something bad – especially if you’re a believer.
Davidson came across that a lot ten years ago after a tornado all but leveled that city: why would God let something happen so tragic?
“Look at what the Bible says about our problems. Our biggest problem is that we are separated from God because of our sins. But, the scripture says that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us,” said Davidson. “Our biggest problem on this planet is dealt with by receiving that free gift of our sins being paid for by God through his son Jesus.”
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