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Church fires: Damage, recovery, prevention

A Dec. 22, 2012, fire destroyed the sanctuary, office area and part of the fellowship hall of Gideon Grove United Methodist Church, Stokesdale, N.C. Photo by the Rev. Nancy Rankin.
A Dec. 22, 2012, fire destroyed the sanctuary, office area and part of the fellowship hall of Gideon Grove United Methodist Church, Stokesdale, N.C. Photo by the Rev. Nancy Rankin.

During 2012 and early 2013, fire destroyed or damaged more than a dozen United Methodist church properties across the United States. Arson was the cause of at least five fires. The insured property value ranged from $10,000 to $3.3 million, but several churches lacked adequate insurance to cover full replacement costs. This special news series reported on the damage from those fires, the response to the affected congregations and what churches can do to protect themselves.

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Mission and Ministry
John Kodjo (standing), a member of Mapamboli United Methodist Church in Kinshasa, Congo, tries to salvage things from his flooded home. Torrential rains and flooding on April 5 damaged over 1,000 homes in the area and killed at least 33 people. Kodjo’s family fled on the roof of their home. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Floods devastate United Methodists in Congo
Thousands have been displaced and two United Methodist churches have been damaged by flooding in Kinshasa, the country’s capital.
Disaster Relief
Leaders with the Association of the Korean United Methodist Church of the California-Pacific Conference visit and pray at Altadena United Methodist Church on Feb. 24. The historic African American church in Altadena, California, was destroyed by wildfire in January. Photo by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.

Korean-led campaign raises funds for wildfire relief
A campaign that transcended ethnic and regional boundaries raised more than $27,000 for recovery efforts and aid in California.
Disaster Relief
Emile Odimba, coordinator of the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s disaster management office in central Congo, helps distribute supplies to flood survivors in Kinshasa, Congo. More than 3,500 people lost their homes in massive flooding last year. Photo by the Rev. Fiston Okito, UM News.

Church provides aid for Congo flood survivors
With financial support from UMCOR and Global Ministries, the church distributed food, medicine and other supplies to thousands of people in central Congo.

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