Wisconsin Church On Rebound Following Tornado

SIREN, WI (July 8, 2002) - A little more than one year later, the building at Siren Covenant Church still reflects the damage, but the congregation's spirit is alive and well after a tornado devastated the resort town on June 18 last year.

Pastor Mark Swenson said that the Siren Covenant facility was not destroyed, as many buildings in town were, but repairing the damage from the storm will cost more money than the church is willing to spend. Instead, the church seeks to build in another part of town.

"We looked at the building immediately after the storm and it was still standing, so we didn't think there was much damage," Swenson said. "But there was a lot more damage and two weeks ago we voted to purchase new ground (a four-acre plot) on the edge of town. We're moving - there was an overwhelming majority interested in going forward.

"One wall bows out more than 10 inches and there were roof problems as well," Swenson continued. "There was a lot of damage that could not have been easily repaired. Given what's been happening in the life of the congregation, it made more sense to move. We'll have room to expand (in the new area) and we'll have extra room for parking and possibly a children's play area."

Swenson said his congregation and others have pitched in to make a difference in Siren. Two parishioners, Dean Rolland and Judy Johnson, were notable contributors, the pastor said. Rolland, the town's police chief, received numerous awards at the time for his efforts in alerting the town to the impending tornado. Johnson, a manager at a bank in Siren, was a trustee for the Siren Relief Fund, which assisted many townspeople who had lost homes or loved ones.

Siren Covenant was part of the Community Interfaith Connection (CIC); an organization started by local churches and Native tribal community members to help needy people. Working with Christian Aid Ministries (affiliated with the Church of the Brethren) and Salvation Army, among others, CIC assisted 400 of the 900 who live in Siren. New houses have been built and the downtown area is undergoing a complete facelift, which has helped revitalize the town.

"The destruction allowed for some incredible transformation of some old buildings," Swenson said. "The main street business district is looking to re-invent itself as well. One of the anchor tenants, Jenneman's Hardware, built a new building and others are considering new projects as well.

"From a business and economic standpoint, it has been a real positive movement for this town," he continued. "As a community, there's been a real pulling together. There's been a feeling that 'We'll survive better than ever.'" One of the popular tee shirts that appeared following the tornado says it well: We've Spun Forward.

Siren Covenant Church, founded in 1911, has an average attendance of around 80. Swenson has been pastor there for two years, part of the time as an interim pastor. His church recently took an offering to help Covenant churches in Roseau, Minnesota, and the congregation is considering sending a work team to help later in the summer.

Nearby Calvary Covenant Church in Grantsburg also was affected by the tornado, but Pastor Doug McConnell said that the few parishioners whose homes were affected have had most of their buildings rebuilt. Calvary Covenant is located seven miles from Siren - the tornado struck in the Grantsburg area, but touched down in fields and not in more populated areas.

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