Floodwaters Impact Iowa CRCs

The town and community of Rock Valley, Iowa, is among several along the Little Sioux, Big Sioux, and Rock rivers in northwest Iowa in recovery and restoration after record-breaking rain that led to flooding June 21-23. Those affected included three Christian Reformed churches—First Christian Reformed Church, Calvin Christian Reformed Church, and Trinity Christian Reformed Church, as well as members of the congregations.

First CRC was inaccessible for about 30 hours while the flood waters overwhelmed much of Rock Valley. When the water receded the church was left with 1 to 2 inches of wet sludge throughout the building, according to council president Evan Vanden Bosch, who was one of the first to assess the damage to the church after it was safe to do so. The church’s basement, Vanden Bosch said, “which houses the furnace boiler and air exchanges was completely full of water.” Matt Haan, pastor of First CRC, believes the sanctuary was protected by God's hand sealing up 15 doors against further devastation. The building had “nearly 30 inches (of water) around it for nearly 30 hours. Yet on June 23rd when we opened the door there was 3 inches or less of mud in the narthex. And only one inch of water in three-quarters of our sanctuary,” Haan said. “We had planned a baptism for the morning of the 23rd, and around the fount was dry, the stage dry, under the piano dry.”

At First CRC the damage led to all of the carpet being removed as well as the benches being removed and reset. The church was able to have worship as well as the baptism on June 30, a week after the flood, in the midst of loss. “Nearly a quarter of our members, nearly 100 people, have damage or have lost their home or business,” Haan said.

Calvin CRC, also in Rock Valley, also had water and silt to deal with, according to the president of the elders Dan Ver Burg. The church has 20 families that were affected, and half of them were displaced from their homes. This included Pastor Gideon Wamala. According to secretary Becky Statema, the church also had to remove its carpet and conduct repairs to the “sound system, paint, and other miscellaneous items.” However, the congregation was also able to worship June 30 with the help of “many people over many hours.”

Trinity CRC was not affected physically by the flooding but did serve as a secondary shelter for 175 people and served three meals a day between June 22 and 26, according to church secretary Kim DeJong.

Despite the difficulties faced by congregations and their members, church leaders reflected on the goodness of God throughout the experience. Vanden Bosch commented, “We don’t know or understand this part of God’s plan. But we have seen many, many evidences of God’s grace and mercy. The First CRC church family will get through this—together.”

Ver Burg commented on the stories that have been told and the humbling experiences he’s witnessed. Statema responded, “In the chaos, I noticed people talking to people, relationships building, fellowship during lunch covered in mud. That won't be forgotten. I think that if you talk to any victims of the flood, they will say that people went over and beyond to help. One person told me that she was so humbled by the people in her house helping.” DeJong said, “Although the devastation is heartbreaking, we are so thankful for people who have come from near and far to help clean up. They have been the hands and feet of Jesus!”

World Renew Disaster Response Services organized a response to the northwestern Iowa flooding just days after it began.

Rock Valley experienced similar but less severe flooding a decade ago. Haan was pastoring First CRC at that time also when the local Christian school and First church only had “minor backup basement water.”

Editor's note: Kyle Hoogendoorn, The Banner’s longtime news correspondent in Iowa, is a member of First CRC in Rock Valley.