During the recent flooding in southern West Virginia, the Executive Committee of the Church of God, Cleveland, TN made a sizeable contribution to the relief efforts. Michael Hartwell, Appalachian Dream Center Coordinator stated, “Just when the relief effort was at the most critical, the men on the Executive Committee came through with the necessary funds and the momentum it provided sustained the relief effort to its conclusion.”

As most everyone is now aware, the recent flooding was the worst in the state’s history leaving hundreds of families devastated. Homes, mobile homes, car, trucks and personal items were completely destroyed. Many families made makeshift housing out of tarps and rope in an effort to keep the rain and wind from their families.

Operation Compassion and the Appalachian Dream Center staff were first on the scene before the West Virginia Emergency Management team. Bottled water, blankets, food, mops, shovels, pails, various cleaning supplies and clothes were sent in a matter of a few days. In fact, eleven semi trucks in all were provided to the relief effort.

In fact, the funds provided by the Executive Committee were sufficient to continue sending in supplies after the immediate relief effort concluded. Hundreds of families needed to be sustained with food, bottled water and clothing weeks after the emergency was ‘officially’ over.

“On behalf of Operation Compassion, Appalachian Dream Center and the flood victims of southern West Virginia, I would like to express gratitude to the leadership of this great church, stated David Lorency, Operation Compassion, International Field Director. “The timeliness of their financial gift was impeccable, only the Lord knew what was needed and when, when the Committee answered the call,” continued Lorency.

The Executive Committee is comprised of five men, nominated by the Bishops Council and elected by the General Assembly, biennially. R. Lamar Vest, General Overseer, G. Dennis McGuire, 1st Assistant Overseer, T. L. Lowery, 2nd Assistant Overseer, Bill F. Sheeks, 3rd Assistant Overseer and Gene D. Rice, Secretary General comprise the current Executive Committee for the Church of God, Cleveland, TN.

Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator

Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing a corporate lead may contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 – Office
423.596.4200 – Fax

Immediately following news of the disastrous flooding in West Virginia, Michael Hartwell, Director of Appalachian Dream Center mobilized his resources to assist the victims. The MacArthur and Delbarton Churches of God partnered with the Dream Center in loading and delivering the necessary supplies to the flood stricken areas of southwestern West Virginia.

By Friday morning, the communities of Bradshaw, Isaban, laegaer, Welch, Atwell, War Northfork, Capels, Keystone, Matewan and Williamson were receiving truck after truck of cleaning supplies, bottled water, food and clothing. Many families in these areas escaped the floodwaters with only the clothes on their backs.

Many homes and mobile homes were lifted off their foundations and washed down stream in total destruction. Cars, trucks and other personal items were washed away and destroyed. While the destruction of personal property was devastating, human loss was even greater. A mother and child were swept away by the floodwaters and were found drowned dowam. Six others have lost their lives in the flood and ten are still missing.

Atwell, Bradshaw, Capels and laegaer Churches of God were severely damaged or destroyed without insurance to cover any loss. Air conditioning and heating units were washed out, furnishings were a total loss, sheetrock, carpeting and flooring will all need to be replaced as a result of the flooding. Kitchen equipment, musical instruments and many other church related items were all destroyed or severely damaged. In fact, the Bradshaw Church of God had four feet of water standing in it.

Reverend Lloyd Griffith, a retired Church of God minister, lost his home of 45 years including everything he owned. Reverend Griffith literally escaped with the clothes on his back.

With so many suffer such loss, Operation Compassion has pledged to do everything possible to bring assistance to the communities of southwest West Virginia. Next week, twelve semis will be delivering all the needed supplies from bottled water to building supplies, food, clothes, shovels and buckets.

At a time like this, many people away from the disaster feel helpless. Yet, there is an innate desire to do something. Help by participating in the clean up effort by donating the shipping cost of $1,000 for each semi delivered to the flood stricken area of West Virginia.

Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator

Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing a corporate lead may contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 – Office
423.596.4200 – Fax

Photo Credit: Williamson Daily New

Last Thursday, May 2, 2002 torrential rains fell upon West Virginia for the second time in ten months. Without a doubt, this is the worst flooding ever for the state. Six people have died and ten people are missing as a result.

Operation Compassion mobilized on Friday, May 3, 2002 at 9:00 am. Once again, being the first agency to respond to this disaster. We have shipped five semi loads of relief products including bottled water and cleaning supplies. Twelve additional semi loads are on the way this week.

We need your help! Sponsor a semi load of cleaning supplies for only the actual shipping cost of $1,000.

Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator

Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing a corporate lead may contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 – Office
423.596.4200 – Fax

It was a blessed day when thirty men and women arrived from the Fairview Church of God in Alabama. Breakfast was waiting on them and the fellowship was tremendous as time was spent thanking God for their safe journey. This group was particularly eager to get to work. Immediately following breakfast, the Fairview group loaded into vans and headed toward Madison, WV. In Madison, the house to be worked on was that of a widow of the former pastor. They had served the Madison Church of God for many years with distinction and now the house was in need of much repair. This group of men and women went right to work removing the old roof and preparing for the new. Some of them started removing trees that would later be cut and used for firewood. Others were busy cleaning windows and doing yard work. It was a sad but beautiful sight. Sad that this widow had no one to turn to for help with routine maintenance work, yet beautiful to see strangers from another part of the country come and share their knowledge and skill to improve her life. What a blessing from God! When they returned to the Appalachian Dream Center that evening, a few started painting our kitchen area while the other surveyed the next day’s project. This project involved the house of an eighty-two year old man and seventy-eight year old woman, married for all of their adult lives. Their thirty-one year old granddaughter and two great grandchildren had moved in to try and help take care of them. Their living conditions were appalling and the few that surveyed it came away in disbelief. When they returned to the Dream Center and explained what they had seen, everyone could hardly wait to get to the house so they could start to work. This family was living with a dirt floor that became mud when it rained. Animals could walk into the house from the gaps between the walls and the floor. The first job was to give them a concrete floor. While some of them took on this task, others were fixing the holes in the roof that was rotting away. Others also noticed the hillside beside the house needed attention so the water would not run through the house. Before the day was done, the front stoop and door was also repaired. Upon returning to the Dream Center after each day’s work, many had tears in their eyes because of the extreme poverty they had witnessed. Most people do not understand the pride, poverty and clannishness of mountain families. It will not allow them to leave their homes and property. About all that can be done is to change their environment around them to make living more bearable. When the Fairview Church of God group was ready to go home, they had been touched by the people they came to help and touched by the hand of God as they helped others. Several wanted to schedule a return trip, while a few wanted to spend the summer at the Appalachian Dream Center. To say the least, the Fairview Church trip was a tremendous success and not soon to be forgotten. Tim Burdashaw Communications Coordinator Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing a corporate lead may contact: Operation Compassion David Lorency, President 114 Stuart Road, NE Suite 370 Cleveland, TN 37312 423.728.3932 – Office 423.596.4200 – Fax

The purpose of Operation Compassion starting a Dream Center in the poverty stricken area of Appalachia was to make a difference in the lives of senior adults, single parents, children and the homeless. Less than one year after the dedication of the Appalachia Dream Center, it can be said that a difference is bring made. During past ten months, Appalachia Dream Center, under the direction of Michael C. Hartwell, has made a definite impact upon the people of rural West Virginia.

Much as been written about the flood that hit the area hard last July. Appalachia Dream Center was first to respond even before the state government! The tireless efforts of Michael Hartwell and his staff, mostly volunteers, made the difference in the survival of a number of families and the restoration of their homes.

Articles have been written heralding the Merry Christmas Appalachia program the past year. Over 2,500 families were impacted by the Dream Center in just a couple of days. Many families were blessed that would have been without any gifts for Christmas.

However, the program that has had the greatest impact on the region is the hot meals. For the last several months, Appalachia Dream Center has been producing and serving more than 700 meals each week. Most of these meals, each week, are going to feed children hot breakfast before school and a hot dinner before going home in the afternoon and senior adults that are able to come to the Center. A large number of these meals are delivered to the homes of senior adults that are shut-in or unable to come to the Center and delivered to homeless individuals sleeping under bridges or vacant buildings. In some instances, these homeless are families with children sleeping anywhere they can night after night.

The cafeteria located in the Appalachia Dream Center can accommodate approximately 500 people seated at one time. There is plenty of room for people to come and relax as they are served their meal from one of ten volunteers. Each day, at least ten volunteers show at the Dream Center to prepare all the meals for the day. Then those same volunteers begin to serve everyone that comes to the Center that day. Michael Hartwell stated, “The volunteers are the backbone of our operation. Without them, there is no way I could do all the work it takes.” Hartwell continued, “The dedication of my people goes beyond wanting to help; these volunteers are here because they love each senior or children that comes in the door.”

Michael Hartwell, Coordinator of Appalachia Dream Center (center) with four volunteer workers ready to unload truck full of food for Hot Meal Program.

Currently, the volunteer staff is comprised of senior adults and church members from the local church – Verdunville Church of God. However, recently the Appalachia Dream Center was awarded a Community State Worker, paid by the state of West Virginia, to help alongside the volunteers. The possibility also exists for the center to receive more help from community state workers as it grows in volume of service rendered to the community.

Operation Compassion started with a dream of building a center of hope and help for a region of the U.S. that was sinking in poverty – Appalachia. With a heart to help the hurting of this world, John D. Nichols, President of Operation Compassion, put into motion a plan to initiate what is now known as Appalachia Dream Center. David Lorency, International Field Director of Operation Compassion, developed the logistical components and organized the opening operation of the Center and Michael Hartwell serves as the Coordinator of daily operations. Because the efforts of these men and countless volunteers, it can be said that Appalachia Dream Center is making a difference!

Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator

John D. Nichols, President
Operation Compassion

Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing a corporate lead may contact:

Operation Compassion
David Lorency, International Field Director
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 – Office
423.596.4200 – Fax

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