Kentucky Tornado Relief, John Eutzley // Life Impact

On December 10, 2021, a violent, rain-wrapped, long-tracked tornado moved across Western Kentucky, and other states, producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns, including Mayfield, Benton, Dawson Springs, and Bremen. At the same time, John Eutzley, a husband, father, car salesperson, and Jesus-follower from Cornerstone was on his last few days of vacation. He intended to use them to finish Christmas shopping and relax on those days because his wife Crystal had to work. When he learned of the tornado and saw the devastation, his heart was moved with compassion. He felt he had to see what he could do to help. Crystal agreed. They are consistent givers, serving with Cornerstone’s City Lights Compassion Ministry regularly, so serving is not new to them.

He called the Red Cross and asked how he could help. They told him they couldn’t use him immediately, or during the timeframe he could offer. He knew he should go, so he loaded up some water and a pillow and blanket in his truck and headed for Kentucky. It was over an eight hour drive.

Shortly before crossing the Kentucky state line, he took a break at a rest stop where he saw a church bus from Michigan. He inquired if they were going to help in the disaster, and the leader said they were. He arranged to meet-up with them and serve in that way. As he came into the area where the tornado did its deadly work, he was overwhelmed with the destruction he saw. He was equally overwhelmed in a thrilling way by the helpers and disaster workers he saw there. Of course the Red Cross and FEMA were there, but there were many other organizations and individuals working there. “The majority of people by far are believers there helping, showing the compassion of Jesus,” John said. “All united with a common love and desire.” 

He went to the First Assemblies of God Church in Mayfield, Kentuckey, slept in his truck in the parking lot that evening, then got up at 6:30 AM to  work alongside Samaritan’s Purse. The organization of the teams was amazing. They met together and prayed each morning. The leaders told all the workers who signed up with them, “Not all of you believe everything we believe, but we ask you to please agree to represent us well while you are here. We can work together. We’ll take anyone who comes with a heart to help.”  There were 150 people on each team.

When they prayed together, the leaders were quick to point out, “It’s not about the property; it’s about the people. They are always our first consideration.” The team members felt a kinship and solidarity. John said you could see the hope it generated in the residents when they looked up and saw a crew of 150 people in orange shirts walking down the streets with no other priority than to bring relief. 

The downtown area of Mayfield is completely gone. Blocks and blocks of nothing but rubble. The old brick buildings 4-5 stories high are now flattened. There are no freestanding buildings. This was an old and deeply valued town. A lady who has lived there all her life, her grandfather was a local pastor for 48 years, told John, “As I walk through what is left of my town, it is like a devastating death. This town will never be the same again. It’s like when someone dear to you dies, you just try to get through the next day.” For many people, this is sorrow upon sorrow. One of the residents deeply affected by the tornado’s destruction was already heartbroken. In December of 2020, just one year prior, his mother died of COVID, and his daughter was murdered that same month. The local librarian’s family home was very damaged. The library was still able to open, however, and this lady courageously and unselfishly went every day to keep the library open and read to and talk to children. She considered it “doing what she could.” 

When asked what his major benefit and takeaway was from serving, John said, “The sheer magnitude of the need matched by the magnitude of like-minded people of compassion was monumentally impacting. It was very humbling to be there and be part of an effort by people from all over, the one thing we had in common was our goal to help. Everyone was served equally. It was wonderful to see the good in humanity come out in force and people acknowledge it—it was very humbling.” John says the people he met there will always remain in his memory. Pastor Bobby Strong, a 71-year-old pastor, was one of the most remarkable. He got to hear the story of Pastor Bobby smuggling Bibles into China! He asked John about Cornerstone, and John told him we are non-denominational. Pastor said his church was too. He said, “I don’t care for labels. If you fly too low, the label burns off. If you fly too high it blows off!”

John and his wife Crystal are planning to take some vacation time next year to do relief work together. He said, “The way we see it, it’s only a few days of our time but it may mean the world to a few.” When praised for their generosity and compassion, John quickly replied, “It’s nothing. Isn’t this what we’re supposed to do?”