Missouri Tornado Relief: Texans on Mission Brings Hope
In the wake of devastating tornadoes that claimed twelve lives across Missouri, Texans on Mission volunteers have emerged as beacons of hope in Poplar Bluff’s storm-ravaged communities.
“You don’t know what it means; it means a whole lot,” said Carla Robinette, whose home was damaged. “It means gratitude, it means appreciation and I just thank the Lord that y’all are Texans on Mission and that y’all are able to help do this sort of work.”
Her experience was mirrored by thousands in the area after the EF3 tornado hit the Southeast Missouri town. Several tornadoes carved a trail of destruction in 27 Missouri counties, leaving 12 dead across the state, including one in Poplar Bluff.
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Bruce Slaven of Texans on Mission described the damage in Robinette’s neighborhood: “If you walk around this block, you’ll see a number of homes that have been damaged from the tornado, and you’ll see Texans on Mission groups from all over helping these people here in Poplar Bluff Our first duty in this job is to tell others about Christ. These people, a lot of them, they’re sitting there, they’re hopeless, they need help, and that’s why we’re here: To help them and then to give them the hope that they can carry on with their lives.”
Steve Gilbert, who served as a chaplain for the response team, agreed.
“We always present a Bible that everybody (on the team) has signed, and I usually leave a scripture with them, and we give that as a personal presentation, just helping them understand that we do not do this for any compensation other than ministering to them and their needs,” he said. “And we know we are at any given place on any given day because that is where God wanted us to be. That speaks to everybody’s heart, whether they are a believer or not.”
The team, which numbered more than 60 Texans on Mission by the second week, set up its response operations at Temple Baptist Church. Church member Steve Davis, who also has served as a city councilman and mayor of Poplar Bluff, shared his appreciation for the team’s response, as well as the removal of five of his own giant trees lost in the storm.
“We weren’t injured or anything, and our house was not damaged that much either,” he said. “Praise the Lord, you guys got up here quickly to help this area, and that’s a blessing. You’re doing a wonderful job, we’re glad to have you here and we thank you, Texans on Mission.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
