I [the first author] was a resident of Wilberforce, Ohio, on April 3, 1974, when a deadly tornado devastated Wilberforce and Xenia. Thirty-four years later, I can still hear the ominous sounds of that deadly tornado in my head-that fast-moving freight train wreaking havoc on everything in its path. When I came out of the basement of the seminary where I worked, my spirit was crushed by the personal injuries and devastation around me, and I worried about my family. It took hours for us to be finally reunited. Later that evening when we visited the students' housing complex where we lived, the roof was gone, the garbage dumpster, like a menacing giant monster, sat in my son's play pen, and most of our books and personal belongings had taken flight with the twisting winds. That was a very s'obering moment! We spent the first few nights, along with other residents in Wilberforce, in one of the dorms located on the campus of Wilberforce University. Eventually, we were relocated to another city. I also can vividly recall the massive outpouring of faith-based and government relief and private sector assistance. Although my spirit was crushed, the tragedy transformed my life forever and gave new meaning to generosity of spirit. **********
