Sunday School after a Flood

Friday, June 21, 2024, marked extreme rainfall in northwestern Iowa that led to severe flooding in the area. Several communities faced evacuation, including members of First CRC in Rock Valley. 

Over 30 families in the congregation are permanently displaced from their homes, which have been deemed unlivable. Other families may be able to repair the damage to their homes but will have to move the buildings to a new location – a complicated and expensive process. All of the affected families lost nearly everything, with very few belongings able to be salvaged. 

“Houses in the community remain gutted,” reported Kim Altena, the church administrator at First CRC, in August. “Driving down main street the homes are all wide open, you can see the studs from all the sheetrock that was removed, completely gutted and wide open drying out. Debris and walls are pushed in or out, foundations completely wiped from underneath some of the homes.”

Neighboring schools have also been heavily damaged. One had a fully flooded basement and three feet of water flowing throughout the main floor. Fish were discovered swimming in classrooms during original assessments of the damage. Another school sustained overwhelming destruction and will need to hold some of its classes at a nearby church and in temporary structures until the building can be restored. 

Rock Valley is a deeply rooted and tight-knit community, with First CRC originally planted by Dutch immigrants in 1891. Since then, the congregation has branched out to form multiple additional church plants and a Christian school in the area while continuing to grow and thrive. A large contingent of community members, volunteers, local nonprofit organizations, and disaster response teams (World Renew included) rallied together to provide relief, repairs, and assistance.

Altena said, “People showed up from all over and provided whatever was needed. Thousands of volunteers spent weeks coming into our community to help. Without the communities helping each other, we would not be able to [get the work done.]”

Altena noted that the congregation feels grateful that the First CRC building was mostly spared. She explained that although about 30 inches of water flowed rapidly around the entire church during the flooding, the main floor took in only 2-3 inches of muddy water. While carpeting, cabinetry, pews, and the furnace will need to be replaced and the ductwork, walls, and furniture will need intensive cleaning, much was spared – including the organ, piano, and pulpit. The congregation has continued to hold services.

While sorting through the damage, Altena realized that First CRC’s recent delivery of Dwell Sunday school curriculum, valued at over $2,000, was irretrievably damaged and had to be thrown out with all the other muddy and waterlogged items in her office. Due to the priority of other repairs and replacements, she determined to make do with older materials that had not been damaged, and she reached out to Faith Alive to see if a small portion of her damaged order could be replaced. Faith Alive was able to connect Altena with Thrive's Dwell Assist program where she was able to have her entire order replaced, and delivered in time for Sunday school to begin as originally scheduled for the coming season.

“All I had was an aerial picture of our church’s condition, and I just hoped there would be understanding,” said Altena. “However, when I explained the loss, they graciously understood and replaced the entire order at no additional charge! We are so grateful!”

Funds to meet this need were allocated via the Dwell Assist Fund – a program for CRC congregations needing financial assistance in order to use the Dwell curriculum. Established in 2017, the Dwell Assist Fund was formed as a way for all kids across the denomination to have access to quality children’s ministry curriculum, regardless of financial situation.

Congregations interested in applying for assistance due to emergency circumstances or financial need are invited to submit a request via the Dwell Assist - Application form. Churches and individuals are also invited to support these churches by donating to Thrive's Dwell Assist Fund.

“We at First CRC in Rock Valley remain humbled and grateful for the community we live in and the way we are working together to get back to a state of living and operating that creates a sense of normalcy,” said Altena. “We are thankful for your prayers and support!”