Several tornadoes touched down in the eastern Oklahoma City metro in the early morning hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024. The Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (OFBCI) compiled a short list of responders and shared it with nearly 400 Be A Neighbor partners to raise awareness of resources available to those affected by the storms and where volunteers were needed.

Of those on the list, OFBCI is shining a spotlight on Harrah Church for providing immeasurable hope and healing to members of their community and nearby towns in the wake of the disaster.

Over a dozen homes in Harrah were severely damaged or destroyed by the storm, leaving families to sift through the wreckage to salvage what little was left. Fallen and tangled power lines affected others’ access to power. Leaders and members of Harrah Church recognized the opportunity to provide aid and quickly coordinated with local firefighters, police, officials, and disaster recovery agencies to offer their help.

Pastor Michael Farris of Harrah Church said volunteers and donations arrived at the church hours after the storm. 

“We were up here at 9 a.m. and had volunteers and teams ready to go,” said Farris.

Eight clean-up teams of four men each, equipped with tools and chainsaws, cleared away debris. Other volunteers became points of contact for the church to coordinate requests and fulfill needs.

The church offered community members hot meals, essential supplies, and a place to find comfort and rest. It became a central hub for donations from across the state, and the Red Cross designated it as a warming center. The church also set up a tornado relief fund to collect donations at all BancFirst locations.

Harrah Church did not hesitate to extend support to members of nearby towns. The Caves, a family from Choctaw, had a 2-minute warning to brace for a tornado headed directly toward them. The tornado tore through their children’s bedrooms, but thankfully, the family was sheltered elsewhere and was unharmed. Harrah Church contacted the family after May Cave posted about the damage on social media. Cave said the church “wrapped around” her family and provided vital support. 

The Caves were invited to be guests of Governor Kevin Stitt at the 2025 State of the State Address, where he shared part of their story.

“The Office of Faith-Based Initiatives helped connect the Caves with [Harrah Church], which provided them with meals, childcare, clothing, and moving assistance. It was the perfect display of the Oklahoma Standard—neighbors walking with neighbors,” said Stitt.

“We are so thankful for Harrah Church, an amazing faith partner who stepped up to help their neighbor,” said OFBCI Director Brian Bobek.

“When the local community comes around rallies to support families, we see lasting impacts in the lives of Oklahomans. Neighbors helping neighbors is what our work is about, and Harrah Church has exemplified that,” said Bobek. 

Be A Neighbor is a free statewide platform that shares local community resources in an easy-to-search format. If you want to sign up as a community resource to offer programs or services that benefit the local community, please visit Be a Neighbor. 

Governor Stitt established the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives on November 7, 2024. Learn more at the Office of Faith-Based & Community Initiatives.

Harrah Church has multiple ministries reaching out to its community and continues to help with clean-up efforts. Learn more at Compassion—Harrah Church.