Congregations from Florida to Virginia continue to deal with the fallout of Hurricane Helene and the flooding that followed. Here are updates from a few congregations on how God has been providing amid the devastation.
Covenant Presbyterian Church, Hendersonville, North Carolina
Steve Mirich is a pastor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville, North Carolina. His home basement took on four feet of flood water mixed with heating fuel from a punctured heating fuel tank. They have pumped out the contaminated water, but the home is uninhabitable because of the fumes. They are waiting to learn if the house will be salvageable. In the meantime, the Mirich children are staying with friends while Steve and his wife stay in a shed on their property.
Covenant did not sustain damage, and volunteers from the church made contact with everyone in the church to make sure they were accounted for and safe. The church body met Wednesday night to pray, cook and eat all the food from the church’s freezer, collect supplies, and discuss how the congregation can meet needs in the community.
“Now we are beginning to look outside the church and make sure everyone is OK,” Mirich said.
He said that even in the devastation, there have been glimpses of community. He and his neighbors have gathered together every evening at the home of a neighbor with a generator to cook their meals together. He asked that the PCA would pray that Covenant would be a light to the community.
“Praise God for our safety and ask God to help us be a light in those good works he has prepared for us to do,” he said. “God is good, even in the devastation, God is good.”
First Presbyterian Church, Augusta, Georgia
Georgia Power described Hurricane Helene as “the most destructive hurricane in the company’s history.” Augusta, Georgia experienced widespread damage. Mike Hearon, lead pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Georgia, shared that approximately 100 families from their church have significant property damage to their home, and about 25 families in the church suffered the loss of their homes from the storm. The church has provided space for MNA to use as a staging area for their relief efforts in the region.
Other PCA churches have also reached out to help First Pres. Volunteers from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Athens brought a truckload of supplies, including power equipment for cleanup. Perimeter Church reached out and offered to arrange temporary housing for members who need shelter.
Hazelwood Presbyterian Church, Waynesville, North Carolina
Hazelwood Presbyterian Church in Waynesville, North Carolina sustained some damage, including flooded basements, mud strewn across the parking lot, and some blocked walkways. Senior Pastor Steve Muzio said the church held worship on September 29, though many members had trouble making it to church due to blocked roads.
Most of the church’s members were mildly inconvenienced by lost power and water and frustrated by utter lack of communication abilities/connectivity. One family had more significant damage. Due to poor communication services and the lack of available fuel, church leaders were not able to connect with everyone right away. At this point, they believe everyone in the church is accounted for and all are in decent shape as power and water services resume.
The congregation is now turning towards helping the neighborhood. According to Pastor Muzio, “We’re in a low-lying area with a high water table and many homes around the church were flooded significantly. On Thursday the church began distributing essentials and will start figuring out how to come alongside families outside the church.” Muzio thanked the PCA for praying for the Waynesville community.
Seven Rivers Church, Lecanto, Florida
Hurricane Helene resulted in the worst flooding on record in the communities around Seven Rivers Church. More than 60 church members were impacted. A single mom with two kids living in an apartment complex had to be rescued. A newly married young couple who had just finished renovating their first home got five feet of water. A staff member has decided they are going to level their house due to the damage. An elder lost his business and rental property. These few examples are representative of the distress experienced by many families and businesses across the community.
According to Senior Pastor Brandon Lauranzon, “In the midst of the devastation, we have seen many examples of God at work. Teams of men, women, and children went out from the church on Saturday and Sunday to begin cleaning up and praying with those who are hurting. The mayor of Crystal River is a member, and he has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and compassion. Seven Rivers exists to bring the healing love of Jesus to broken people and broken places. We believe that it is in moments like these, the hope of the gospel shines brightest. Please pray that many come to faith and the kingdom of God expands in Citrus County through the continued outreach of our people for weeks and months to come.”
Fairview Fellowship Christian Church, Fairview, North Carolina
Fairview Christian Fellowship Church is in one of the hardest-hit areas of Highlands County, North Carolina. With no electricity and spotty cellular reception, Pastor Trevor Allen had no way of letting people know whether there would be a worship service on September 29, but 18 people showed up anyway. They sang and prayed together, celebrated the Lord’s Supper, and listened to a sermon from Matthew 14.
Many church members remain trapped by downed trees and washed out roads, and Fairview Christian Fellowship is getting food and water to them. The home that sustained the worst damage was Allen’s, which had two oak trees fall across their living room. The family huddled under the dining room table for protection. Their neighborhood creek swelled from three feet to 22 feet, and the Fairview Fire Department had to rescue the family. A burst dam nearby created a mudslide that missed the Allen house, but has claimed at least 44 lives.
Fairview Christian Fellowship has turned into a distribution center, providing water, food and toiletries to residents. Church members are able to talk and pray with traumatized neighbors, many of whom arrive at the church after being rescued by the Fairview Fire Department.
Allen asked people to pray that the church would bring both physical and spiritual nourishment to the Fairview community. “We want to point people to waters that flow from the throne of grace that don’t destroy, but lift them up. I want people to know the Lord through this,” he said.
Donations to support MNA’s Disaster Relief efforts can be made here.