On October 10, 2018 our church in Mexico Beach FL was hit by Category 5 Hurricane Michael. Our town was ground zero and saw the devastating effects of the strongest winds in the eyewall and also devastating storm surge of 17+ feet. Our members and friends lost homes and other valuables in just a few short, but unbearably long, hours. We were unable to get in to check on our homes and church for several days because the roads into town were impassable. When we did get back in the town was mostly unrecognizable. Some people who had evacuated far enough away to still have electricity and internet were able to access the news and see photos of the destruction but it still didn't prepare them for the reality of it all. Our church was standing but inside everything was toppled and wet. Several feet of water had forced its way in and made a mess that was already starting to grow mold in the heat and humidity. Yet amidst all of the destruction we held on to our faith and trusted God to bring us through. In the rubble there was a Bible that had been swept up in the waters but it was open and the message on that page was a reminder to keep the faith and hold on to our hope. There was an Upper Room magazine left open to a prayer about trusting God in the storms of life. God was speaking to us, reminding us to trust Him and put our hope in Him.
Romans 8:18-25 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for the adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
A few weeks after the storm we began meeting in Fred and Theo's home. We praised the Lord for his provision! We believe Him when He says that we are the body, His holy church. All of the believers across the earth are the actual church! We were able to gather in two different homes during the rebuilding of our sanctuary and it was a great blessing to be able to worship together. A little over one year later we were back in our Sanctuary. The trials we walked through together made us stronger as a family. We are thankful that the Lord sent us volunteers to help and that the people made generous donations to rebuild our Sanctuary, our Sunday School and our Fellowship hall. We thank the Lord for His blessings!
Your Gallery
