Churches Support Storm-struck Neighbors

In Munster, Ind., and St. Catharines, Ont., Christian Reformed congregations host chainsaw sharpening and a community BBQ in support of neighbors affected by August storms and flooding.

“Maybe this is where the church shines the brightest,” suggested pastor Jim Hollendoner of Munster (Ind.) Church in a video message on the church’s Facebook page. “Not simply to have that immediate response but in the steady, faithful presence that now comes.” Hollendoner posted the message a couple of days after a severe Aug. 11 storm affected many in Chicago southland and northwest Indiana.

Reporting from the Chicago Sun Times said, “Winds of nearly 100 mph and torrential downpours knocked trees into people’s homes and driveways and flooded basements and roads. Seven people died across Indiana. The storm caused widespread power outages in the state.”

Munster Church, a Christian Reformed congregation of about 300 members in a commuting suburban area of a little less than 24,000 (2020 census, rounded), fed first responders, sponsored 300 free food truck meals to neighbors, and is now hosting a chainsaw-sharpening event in support of storm cleanup and recovery.

Justin Walters, director of youth and family at Munster Church, learned the sharpening trade from his grandfather growing up in Holland, Mich., and now runs “JUST-N-SHARP” as a side business, which he moved to Indiana when he and his family relocated there in May. It was his grandfather, who operates Rusty Edges Sharpening in Holland, who suggested hosting the sharpening event, knowing how in demand chainsaws would be in the cleanup. Russ Johnson will drive down from Holland so both professional sharpeners can offer their services at a discounted rate. Half of the small fee will go to a church fund to help storm victims.

“All of the community was without power for at least three or four days and most for a week or more,” Walters said. “There is not a single family here that wasn’t affected.”

Earlier, in St. Catharines, Ont., about 800 km northeast of Munster and still in the Great Lakes ecosystem, two devastating floods happened within a week of each other. A state of emergency was declared Aug. 3 in the community of about 145,000 (2022 Statistics Canada, rounded). The mayor’s press release said, “The declaration comes following a pair of intense storms that brought more than 140 mm of rain to areas across the City on July 27-28 and again on August 2. The historic storms overwhelmed the City’s infrastructure, including roads and sewer/stormwater infrastructure, and has caused flooding that has affected homes, businesses, City facilities, and significant property damage.”

Covenant CRC is in the city’s lakeside north end, where a large proportion of the affected properties are located. The church’s own building took in water, up to a foot deep, during both storms and had to completely strip its basement of flooring, furniture, and many stored materials. Meeting space for children’s worship and nursery has been relocated upstairs, and the church has to adjust its programs because the space will be unusable for months.

Though the city has not published a count of how many homes flooded, Mayor Mat Siscoe said the city received about 3,000 applications to its flood alleviation program, against about 30 in a typical year.

Covenant CRC’s council wanted to show neighbors hospitality in solidarity, sponsoring a free community BBQ, also on Aug. 29. “We believe this is an opportunity for Covenant to show compassion, care and Christ’s love in action, by being good neighbours and helping one another through a difficult time,” the council wrote to church members in an invitation to the event. Flyers encouraged: “Let’s stick together St. Catharines!”