The Central Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which lost its building in a tornado last year, has begun the rebuilding process.

In tornado-stricken communities in Missouri and Alabama, youth groups from Churches of Christ are lending their time and sweat to recovery efforts.

Find links to all the coverage by The Christian Chronicle of the April 27 tornadoes that killed hundreds and injured thousands in the South.

Jared Blankenship, a deacon and Bible class teacher at the Central Church of Christ in Hereford, Texas, has declared his candidacy for president of the United States. The 1993 graduate of Abilene Christian University in Texas outlines his reasons on his “Reclaiming America” website. “Many will ask why a former schoolteacher and unknown farmer from Texas would run for president,” he says on a YouTube video. “Perhaps the better question is, why are more Americans not standing in line to do so?”

Trey Canard, a member of the Central Church of Christ in Shawnee, Okla., earned his first career Supercross victory on Saturday night in front of 45,859 fans at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

Out of his racing uniform, Trey Canard seems an unassuming presence, especially for someone known for performing high-speed, bone-jarring exploits in front of 30,000 to 60,000 fans. However, the toughness and quiet confidence of the 5-foot-6, 150-pound Canard shine through as he reflects on his motorcycle racing career and the long list of injuries he has overcome. Read The Christian Chronicle’s profile of Canard, a member of the Central Church of Christ in Shawnee, Okla.

Kyle Vath was having lunch with Marcus Ewing in Nashville several years ago when Ewing told Vath he wanted him to meet some of his friends. Before leaving the restaurant, Ewing bought a bunch of hamburgers to take with them.” His friends were homeless people by the river,” said Vath, who attended Central Church of Christ in Cincinnati with Ewing since they were kids. “He knew every one of their names and stories. His selflessness was amazing.”