SCC

Prayer Works in the Midst of the Yazoo City Tornado

04/27/10

 
Prayer Works in the Midst of the Yazoo City Tornado
Hello, Friends!
In case you were asking yourselves questions about us, Seventh-day Adventist Christians, here in Yazoo City, Mississippi, USA, We’re safe and sound. The tornado was severe but we thank God that he took care of us! Here’s what happened:
At the time the massive tornado was approaching our city of approximately 25,000, we were in worship at our church, Lintonia Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church, 410 Clay Street, (Map to Location) Yazoo City, MS on Sabbath (Saturday), April, 24, 2010. God in His love and care, unknown to us, was preparing us for this coming tornado—He inspired the flow of our worship that day.
The song leader stood up to lead us in a congregational hymn and she said, "I've been lookin' for this song for a long time, but today I've found it, please open your hymn books [African American Heritage Hymnal] to Hymn Number 313, ‘I've Got a Feeling Everything's Gonna Be Alright.’"
At the time, we didn't know anything about the approaching tornado. We didn't make it through the first verse when we were informed via phone and cell phones that a tornado of extreme proportions was headed our way—to Yazoo City. As word spread through the congregation, the elders asked everybody to stand up while singing the song. Then we fell on our knees and interceded for our city and ourselves; we rose to our feet again, went back to the same song clapping and again singing it all the way through. As we were finishing the song, the rain became heavier, and then the lights started blinking and flickering. Within moments, we lost power and there was darkness—only the dim, dark cloudy outside light coming through the windows. The preacher man stood to his feet at the podium, preached a timely and heartwarming message from Isaiah 40:1, 2 “COMFORT ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’s hand double for all her sins.”
We learned later that while approaching Yazoo City, the tornado veered (while we were singing and praying) to the right effectively enough to avoid the densely populated residential part of the city. It ended up hitting the business side of the city. Had the tornado not veered off its primary route, the aftermath could have been a catastrophe beyond imagination. I may not have lived to write about it. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
After the benediction, we were all smiles and were loudly, praising and thanking God for sparing our lives. We shook hands and hugged knowing God had been with us. That day was not an ordinary day of worship. Of the many wonderful worship services we have, I may not remember all of the details, what happened, what message, who sang, etc.., but April 24, 2010 is a Sabbath Service I never will forget in my lifetime on this planet. It strengthened my faith in God.
As if this were not enough, as we came out of the church building, God confirmed He heard our prayers of intercession for our city and ourselves: one of the trees on the western side of the church was down, yet another on the eastern side was down, but our place of worship was untouched (Hallelujah!). At this time we praised God all the more. God’s Word and His promises are true. With no where to run for cover, He kept us safe in His arms, in His sanctuary.
A day later, I went to survey the damage the tornado caused: it was something that left a vivid picture of destruction in my mind: billboards twisted and leveled to the ground; several places where buildings used to be—now just nothing; big trees uprooted, smaller ones chopped up so that only the trunks remained; power lines were down, and churches demolished, some with missing roofs, what a mess.
“The tornado was on the ground for 149 miles, from 5 miles west of Tallulah, Louisiana, to about 5 miles north of Sturgis, Miss. The tornado was on the ground for nearly 3 hours and reached a maximum width of 1.75 miles. Storm damage surveys placed Saturday’s tornado at EF3 during much of its path but EF4 through Yazoo and Holmes counties.” From the "Wichita Eagle," Stan Fingers’ Weather News Blog Article: Saturday’s Yazoo City tornado finds place in tornado history.
We of the SDA Church in Yazoo City strongly believe that God, our loving Father heard the intercession of His children for Yazoo City on that Sabbath day and veered the menace away. And now we grieve that some people lost their lives that day; our hearts and prayers are with the families who lost loved ones. In addition to this, we believe this could have been proportionately worse and that without prayer, the number of fatalities could have been much worse.
“That only 10 people died and nearly 50 were injured by the large tornado is a testament to early warnings and residents responding appropriately. Witnesses said the tornado was often difficult to see because it was rain-wrapped”—Stan Fingers, Wichita Eagle: http://blogs.kansas.com/weather/2010/04/27/saturdays-yazoo-city-tornado-finds-place-in-tornado-history/.
 
We’re appreciative for technology, early warnings, residents responding, etc… because we know God gave man the mind to develop such things for our good and safety, BUT, we know it was the prayers of the saints that moved God’s hand to STEER the Beast in another direction that day and spared Yazoo City. This is a Testament of His Divine Power and Willingness to answer His children’s prayers. Prayer worked in the midst of the Yazoo City Tornado. And prayer changes things.
 
Amen!
Watson Chilala, Head Elder
Lintonia Chapel SDA Church
Yazoo City, MS
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Pastor "Philip Johny" pejohny@hotmail.com,
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 10:59am
To: michael.harpe@scc-adventist.org
Subject: Prayer Works
--
Elder Michael A. Harpe
Director of Communication
South Central Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
www.scc-adventist.org
michael.harpe@scc-adventist.org

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-21).