April 30th, 2026
by Mark McAdow
by Mark McAdow
By Pastor Mark McAdow
One week ago today, April 23, was just the next day on the calendar – nothing especially noteworthy or unusual. How quickly things can change. Those who were watching TV saw the tornado warning symbol in the corner of the screen identifying Oklahoma counties where the weather conditions were such that a tornado could occur, including the Enid area. Just another Oklahoma spring evening – until it wasn’t!
Weather alerts on phones began sounding by the National Weather Service and outdoor sirens began to sound off in Enid. OKC weathermen were telling us all to move to the center of our house or our storm shelter. Storm chasers began broadcasting live pictures of the largest tornado I had ever seen churning the earth up in southeast Enid. The pictures took your breath away!
Forty minutes later, 40-plus homes were damaged or destroyed in the worst tornado in Garfield County in 35 years! It was an EF4 tornado with 175+ mile per hour winds. One of our church families, Shawn and Jennifer Aebi (John and Evelyn’s daughter) lost their entire home, and others we know also had severely damaged or destroyed homes in and around the Grey Ridge Estates. Miraculously, no fatalities!
This is the perfect time to use the word “miracle.” It truly describes what happened. I’ve never heard of an EF4 tornado with no deaths. Never. God’s hand of protection was on those people who weathered the storm in their safe rooms, storm shelters and even laundry/ bathrooms. God is good! Though homes were destroyed and recovery will take months and even years, no lives lost. Thank God! I also want to thank God for our Enid police, firefighters, EMT’s, first responders and city officials who converged on the scene to rescue folks and assess the damage.
Mandie, Scott and I had the opportunity to spend Tuesday afternoon working in the affected area with Samaritan’s Purse ministries. We met people from Shawnee, Okla., to Washington State, Arizona and North Carolina – all here to volunteer their time to help the people of Enid! This is the same organization we support annually through our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes (we’re an official Enid collection site). Our Administrative Council voted Tuesday evening to seek designation as a Lighthouse Church with Samaritan’s Purse to host and send teams to disasters as needed. We also got to work side by side with Pastor Brad and members at World Harvest Church. What a blessing to serve our Lord together!
We have a team of volunteers coming this evening to stay at Willow View through Wednesday morning. Please be sure to greet them warmly and offer to help answer questions. They plan to join us for worship at 9:00 on Sunday, too. Robin is coordinating three meals a day for the 12-member team. They are also joining us Friday morning at Wee Too for the First Friday Men’s Breakfast. Thanks to ALL of you who have already volunteered to help with meals.
” God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…”- Psalms 46:1-2a. Hope to see you this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion together.
Love you,
Pastor Mark
One week ago today, April 23, was just the next day on the calendar – nothing especially noteworthy or unusual. How quickly things can change. Those who were watching TV saw the tornado warning symbol in the corner of the screen identifying Oklahoma counties where the weather conditions were such that a tornado could occur, including the Enid area. Just another Oklahoma spring evening – until it wasn’t!
Weather alerts on phones began sounding by the National Weather Service and outdoor sirens began to sound off in Enid. OKC weathermen were telling us all to move to the center of our house or our storm shelter. Storm chasers began broadcasting live pictures of the largest tornado I had ever seen churning the earth up in southeast Enid. The pictures took your breath away!
Forty minutes later, 40-plus homes were damaged or destroyed in the worst tornado in Garfield County in 35 years! It was an EF4 tornado with 175+ mile per hour winds. One of our church families, Shawn and Jennifer Aebi (John and Evelyn’s daughter) lost their entire home, and others we know also had severely damaged or destroyed homes in and around the Grey Ridge Estates. Miraculously, no fatalities!
This is the perfect time to use the word “miracle.” It truly describes what happened. I’ve never heard of an EF4 tornado with no deaths. Never. God’s hand of protection was on those people who weathered the storm in their safe rooms, storm shelters and even laundry/ bathrooms. God is good! Though homes were destroyed and recovery will take months and even years, no lives lost. Thank God! I also want to thank God for our Enid police, firefighters, EMT’s, first responders and city officials who converged on the scene to rescue folks and assess the damage.
Mandie, Scott and I had the opportunity to spend Tuesday afternoon working in the affected area with Samaritan’s Purse ministries. We met people from Shawnee, Okla., to Washington State, Arizona and North Carolina – all here to volunteer their time to help the people of Enid! This is the same organization we support annually through our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes (we’re an official Enid collection site). Our Administrative Council voted Tuesday evening to seek designation as a Lighthouse Church with Samaritan’s Purse to host and send teams to disasters as needed. We also got to work side by side with Pastor Brad and members at World Harvest Church. What a blessing to serve our Lord together!
We have a team of volunteers coming this evening to stay at Willow View through Wednesday morning. Please be sure to greet them warmly and offer to help answer questions. They plan to join us for worship at 9:00 on Sunday, too. Robin is coordinating three meals a day for the 12-member team. They are also joining us Friday morning at Wee Too for the First Friday Men’s Breakfast. Thanks to ALL of you who have already volunteered to help with meals.
” God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…”- Psalms 46:1-2a. Hope to see you this Sunday as we celebrate Holy Communion together.
Love you,
Pastor Mark
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