Last Sunday, May 22, a tornado ravaged Joplin, Missouri. Many of you have heard about the devastation that this mile-wide tornado caused. The images leave you speechless, and wondering what we can do to help from here in central Kentucky.

Nate Head, our Age Level Director is currently on the ground sending pictures (see them on flickr), videos and information about how we as a church can help Joplin. Right now, Joplin is overwhelmed with supplies that have already been donated, and doesn't yet have the infrastructure to coordinate utilizing large groups of volunteers. We’re ready to take action, but we’re exercising the restraint and wisdom of waiting to hear what real, long-term needs become apparent to our contacts on the ground in Joplin.

In the meantime, we can start with something that has been identified as helpful: sending gift cards. While several businesses were destroyed, Nate has told us that some businesses are still operational. These gift cards will be a great resource to bring some normalcy and aide to those people who are left without anything.

If you want to help the people of Joplin, you can buy gift cards from any of the businesses below and bring them to next weekend’s services.

• Lowe's
• Walmart
• Target
• Bed Bath Beyond
• Kohl's
• Olive Garden
• Applebee's
• McDonald's
• Chick-fil-a
• Toys R Us

This may seem too simple, but trusted sources have assured us that it will be a huge help. This is just the beginning. We are in this for the long haul. Nate, Jon Weece and Dan Hamel among other church family have known Joplin as home. We’re going to help our family, and we’ll relay more information about how to do so as soon as we know.