In the wake of a disaster and failed response from emergency services, a church community is standing up and taking ownership of their own healing and future, with leaders demonstrating capabilities that Eden has helped shape at the helm.
When the tornado hit Centennial Christian Church in the Fountain Park neighborhood on the afternoon of May 16th, three people were inside: Patricia Penelton, who had recently wrapped up a meeting with unhoused individuals, Sherrill Jackson, who was meeting with DeMarco Davidson about the future of the congregation, whose pastor had recently resigned. DeMarco is an Eden Alumn (’18) and the director of Metropolitan Congregations United, an organization that puts faith into action by developing leaders who move their congregations, organizations and communities to change public policy for the common good.
Without tornado sirens or other warning signs, the three were taken completely by surprise, and the roof of the church collapsed around them just as the floor fell out from under them.
DeMarco Davidson was trapped in the rubble for more than two hours alongside Sherrill Jackson. Due to a serious flaw in the system, his calls to 911 were rerouted to a non-emergency line, so he called as many folks in his personal network that he could think of, including Eden Assistant Professor of Community Leadership & Director of Walker Leadership Institute and DeMarco’s longtime friend, Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker.
Dietra’s organizing instincts kicked in and after being redirected and put on hold by the local 911, she scrolled through her phone and called St. Louis 10th Ward Alderwoman Shameem Clark Hubbard, who was able to coordinate emergency services.
At the same time, Fountain Park community members were responding, realizing that their neighbors were trapped beneath the church, and beginning an effort to dig them out. By the time emergency services arrived on the scene, community-led rescue efforts were well underway.
DeMarco and Sherrill survived the disaster with only minor injuries. Patricia Penelton, however, passed away in the rubble. The community is mourning the loss of a spunky and dedicated civil servant who was part of the Centennial Church for over 40 years.
DeMarco was a hero in this story, using his first aid skills to ensure his and Sherrill’s airways were clear, and activating a rescue no matter what it took.
Less than a week after the tragedy, the Centennial Church Congregation selected Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker to become their transitional pastor. The congregation is already boldly envisioning a brighter future: they plan to rebuild the church into a worship and gathering space that includes affordable housing, a community health clinic, commercial space, and green space. This community-centered worship space will be built where the ruins of the Centennial Church currently stand.
“The first commitment is that we’re not going anywhere,” Wise Baker said. “I know folks are looking in our building and they’re thinking, ‘Oh my God, that’s it. They’re not going to be back.’ But we’re not going anywhere. We plan to be here another 121 years.”
We applaud DeMarco for his heroism in an unthinkable situation and Dietra for her willingness to step into this leadership role in a time of great need.
On Wednesday, May 28th, the congregation gathered outside of the ruins of the church in a firm and resilient commitment to rebuilding. At the gathering, multiple branches of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pledged fiscal, physical, and emotion support for the Centennial Christian Church and Fountain Park Communities.
“Centennial Christian Church Disciples of Christ has stood in this neighborhood for more than 121 years, and we’re still standing,” says Dietra. “Through storms, through change, through tragedy and triumph, we’ve held fast to our mission to serve the vulnerable, to proclaim hope and to love without condition.”
For our small part in the story, Eden will be renaming our garden after the late Patricia Penelton, who spent her last hours serving her community in the place of worship that she loved. We will be sharing more details about the naming ceremony, slated for Fall 2025, later in the summer.
St. Louis Public Radio published a detailed account of this story, from which much of this post is adapted. Thank you, Marissanne Lewis-Thompson for your thorough reporting. Read the full story.
KSDK also published a story about the rebuilding of Centennial Christian Church by Tracy Hinson. Read the full story.
Six years after graduating from Eden, Witmer started an open and affirming church in small town Iowa, which was cutting-edge in 1997. Later, he stumbled upon a position at Women at the Well, where he found his true vocation: supporting women in prison and their re-entry process. Witmer has been serving as the lead pastor at Women at the Well since 2021. 
