One cannot drive to the St. Louis Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church—part of the Iowa-Missouri Conference—without passing far too many somber displays of the havoc wreaked by the May 16 tornado. The proximity is close, but the contrast is stark—fortunately. The toppled trees and residential rubble evoke a sense of despair, yet the church stands as a bastion of hope.
In a united effort, multiple levels of Adventist leadership and ministries—including Adventist Community Services (ACS), the North American Division (NAD), the Mid-America Union Conference, Iowa-Missouri Conference, and the Central States Conference—have come together to respond to the needs of tornado survivors. Partnering with impact! st. louis, an initiative of the General Conference Youth Ministries department, the Spanish church has been transformed into a distribution center for food, water, and other essential items. This community outreach is taking place alongside the 62nd General Conference Session held downtown July 3–12, 2025.
A Model of Collaboration
W. Derrick Lea, executive director of ACS for the North American Division, emphasized how the relief initiative reflects collaboration across all levels of church structure.
“When [the tornado] happened, we immediately connected with our partners at the Mid-America Union, which oversees both the Central States and Iowa-Missouri conferences,” Lea said. “Through those daily conversations, we crafted a coordinated response plan to serve the affected community.”
The communication extended beyond internal networks. “We also worked closely with city officials,” Lea added. “Those partnerships allowed us to place two Adventist representatives inside the Emergency Operations Command for the city of St. Louis.”
PC: Hugh Davis
That access to real-time updates helped the church identify service gaps and respond strategically. “We were able to gather current information daily and mobilize resources to where they were needed most,” Lea said. “Ultimately, that led us to bring in a management team and set up a warehouse that now supplies the church-based distribution center.”
Community awareness efforts included online promotion and neighborhood engagement. Youth volunteers from Sunnydale Adventist Academy, a school of the Iowa-Missouri Conference, were instrumental in canvassing surrounding neighborhoods with flyers and praying with residents. This opened the door for encouraging conversations and meaningful connections.
Mid-America Union and Conference-Level Response
Tyrone Douglas, who serves as ACS and Youth/Young Adult Ministries director for the Mid-America Union, underscored how quickly the partnership pivoted in response to the disaster.
“We were already planning a service project with impact! st. louis,” Douglas explained. “But when the tornado hit, it allowed us to seamlessly shift the focus of the initiative to respond to urgent local needs.”
Douglas confirmed that food distribution and support efforts will continue even after the General Conference Session ends, thanks to the dedication of local church leaders, volunteers, and conference support.
Academy Students Step Up
Several seniors from Sunnydale Adventist Academy, including “Mara,” have been serving at the warehouse and distribution center throughout the summer. Mara explained how their school became involved.
“A couple of weeks ago, our chaplain, Miss [Victoria] Tobing, reached out to us and asked if we’d be willing to volunteer at the ACS Disaster Warehouse for four weeks,” she said. “We’d work full days from Sunday through Thursday, with Fridays and Sabbaths off.”
PC: Hugh Davis
Initially unsure about giving up a big part of her summer, Mara chose to serve after reflecting on the opportunity to give back—especially in her hometown.
“I realized this is a way to serve God and my community,” she said. “It’s been a blessing to be part of something that’s making a real difference.”
ADRA in Support
Imad Madanat, vice president for Humanitarian Affairs at the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), visited the distribution center and affirmed ADRA’s readiness to support ACS efforts.
“We have a strong relationship with Derrick Lea and ACS,” Madanat said. “Whenever a major disaster strikes in the U.S., we’re in contact immediately to see how we can assist.”
Madanat observed the youth and adult leaders conducting a dry run of the distribution process and was encouraged by their preparedness and teamwork.
“The U.S. has seen a lot of disasters lately,” he said. “We want to be able to respond quickly and effectively, united in our mission as a church.”
A Call to Readiness
Lea issued a heartfelt appeal to church members everywhere. “I encourage our members to get involved with Adventist Community Services at the local level,” he said.
“No one in St. Louis expected what happened on May 16—but because relationships and structures were already in place, we were able to respond quickly. Those connections save time—and potentially lives—when disasters strike.”
PC: Caleb Durant/Iowa-Missouri Conference/Mid-America Union, for North American Division
This version of the original story was adapted from the North American Division website. The original article was written by John Simon, a freelance writer based in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
