Iowa Pastor Feels Gratitude at Christmas
When Rev. Frank Pott looked out his bedroom window and saw the deadly funnel cloud forming in the sky over Parkersburg, Iowa, on Sunday, May 25, he was scared.
But the long-time Christian Reformed Church pastor says he knew that God would be faithful, no matter what happened. Pott also serves as Christian Reformed World Mission's regional missions mobilizer for the Upper Midwest.
Now, as Christmas approaches, Pott says his fear is long gone and his faith is, if anything, even stronger. Out of gratitude to the CRC and especially to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee "Green Shirts" who helped rebuild his home and town, Pott says he wants to tell the story.
After spotting those awful swirling clouds, the retired pastor and his wife, Betty, ran for protection to their basement -- just in time, because the F5 tornado ripped through the neighborhood, roaring like a freight train, tearing apart homes and killing or injuring residents of the community. The Pott's home was seriously damaged.
This Christmas, Pott says, he continues to be amazed by the stories of peace and love and commitment that he encountered in the months following the deadly tornado and then a flood fed by a spring deluge.
In some ways the tragedies that his town faced this year remind him of the economic storm that has ripped through lives of people around the world in recent weeks, he says. As was the case with the tornado, he remains convinced there is reason to be upbeat, even in the midst of the financial storm.
"God will see us through," he says. "Even with all that we have been through, we have been blessed. You realize what is important in your life and what is just stuff."
The babe born more than 2,000 years ago in a manager who grew into a man who saved the world by his death on a cross does not forget his people, Pott says. He recalls standing in his basement as the tornado raced overhead, cracking walls and sweeping away part of the roof, and thinking, "Be still and know that I am God."
Within 24 hours of the storm, members of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee's Disaster Relief Service team were in town and helping to plan the recovery.
The Parkersburg CRC was not destroyed, although two of its members died in the tornado. As the weeks passed, Pott played a key role helping to coordinate relief efforts. In that time, he came across many people of faith who helped in so many ways.
The mile-wide tornado was the deadliest twister to hit the town of 1,900 residents in 40 years. About half of all structures in Parkersburg were destroyed.
Among Pott's toughest memories are of seeing bodies covered by rubble after the storm and officiating at the funeral of the couple from the Parkersburg CRC who were killed. But he doesn't let the hard experiences diminish his faith.
As Christmas approaches, he says, he is happy to see that what looks like a whole new town emerging outside his window. He sees a new football field, a new high school and scores of new homes -- and all of this brings him hope and joy.
For more information about CRWRC, visit www.crwrc.org or call 1-800-55-CRWRC.
