Eagle Brook Church Blog

Quite a week

I’ve mentioned this before, but being a pastor is a wild ride.  This last Friday I had the great opportunity to officiate a wedding at Mn Landscape Arboretum.  It turned out to be great weather and all went really well.  I feel honored to come alongside people like that in the highlights of life.  I then had the chance to lead through the services on Sunday which I thought Kenny and the band did a phenomenal job of bringing us all into the presence of God.  Jason did a great job with his message on forgetting the past and I had the opportunity to recognize those who have given their lives while serving in the military. 

Then Sunday night came and went.  My two boys were out in front when our Shoreview tornado siren went off.  We went inside and watched the news about Hugo.  I’m embarrassed to admit we didn’t understand the extent of the damage, turned off the TV and went about cooking our burgers on the grill.  It rained for about 10 minutes, hailed for about one and we went back about our life as usual.  Little did I know how life was far from usual up here in Hugo.

It really wasn’t till Monday that I started to understand the gravity of what had happened.  I spoke with some people who mentioned the Prindle family and realized that this would have a massive impact on our church family.  Later that day I saw the front page of the Pioneer Press that showed one of our WBL attenders, Craig McKinney on the phone while standing in the rubble from a devastated home.  I had just met Craig on Sunday.

Throughout the week our church has done some great things to reach out to these people in a time of devastation.  We’ve set up a resource/prayer/care tent at a house right in the middle of the neighborhood that was most effected, we’ve had staff and volunteers posted at this tent all week handing out water, pop, snacks and providing a listening ear.  We hosted a dinner last night for those impacted and we’re encouraging as many people as the city will take to help on the big clean up day that’s taking place this Saturday.

Today I had the chance to spend about 3 hours at our Oasis Tent in the neighborhood.  I wish I could explain the destruction that is throughout the community.  Some people are optimistic and ready for a new start already, others are still talking about what happened and trying to wrap their minds around their new home and lives.  I was able to take 2 backpacks full of supplies, pop and water and go from home to home and offer God’s love in a practical way.  Some were wrapped up working and many were thankful and interested in some M & M’s or a drink.  This gave me many opportunities to hear peoples stories and offer them a listening ear as well as a dose of encouragement.

As exciting as it was to spend time officiating a wedding for two friends at the height of life last weekend, it’s quite sobering and humbling to come alongside and serve those who are in a time of devastation this week.

Let’s keep praying for our friends of Hugo…especially the Prindle family.  It’s Thursday night and I just heard the 10:00 news that says she is still in a battle.

To the people who are representing Christ by so generously giving of time and resources – thank you!  To those who are in a time of chaos, construction and clean-up, know that our prayers are with you and for you!