Hurricane Helene Report
Hurricane Helene hit the idyllic little mountain community of Barnardsville in Western North Carolina with brute force, leaving massive desolation far beyond anything this locale has ever experienced. This normally peaceful, pastoral valley is surrounded by majestic mountains, nearly 6,000 ft. in height. The terrain below is filled with creeks and streams that swell to many times their size during frequently occurring flash floods. But never such a torrent as this! Many homes were swept away completely, and many more were left gutted and ruined. Our church building incurred heavy damage, too!
Thankfully, after repairing and restoring affected areas in our facility, we are now worshiping in our church sanctuary.
So many of our community families suffered devastating, painful loss! BUT our Lord, who promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), has sustained us and now is faithfully helping us to rebuild and restore.
We are very thankful to our Lord for allowing this church to respond quickly to the immediate needs of our neighbors. We especially wish to express our gratitude to Big Ivy Community Center (www.bigivy.org) for designating us a donation and distribution point for all kinds of emergency and relief supplies. The staff and volunteers of BICC are committed, knowledgeable, helpful, and great to work with. Our church fellowship hall and other available rooms were filled to overflowing with food, water, and clothing; sleeping bags and tents; medical supplies; generators and chainsaws; propane and kerosene heaters; and virtually anything else needed during this dire emergency. Also, many thanks are in order for the Barnarnardsville Fire Department for opening their facilities to us on Sunday mornings for our weekly worship service. Their hospitality has been amazing!
Several other organizations were on the scene, including the Salvation Army, Samaritan’s Purse, several military dispatches, Brock Mountain Land Company, who restored our roads and bridges, and more private and church disaster relief groups than we can begin to enumerate.
Check out the article from the Salvation Army about our church!
The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock: A Community Rebuilds After Hurricane Helene
Our own community friends and neighbors were especially incredible! A constant stream of trucks, 4-wheelers, and other vehicles, staffed by neighbors with chainsaws and equipment, immediately coalesced, and Barnardsville went to work, people helping people.
Most of all, of course, we offer thanks and appreciation to our Lord, who made it all possible. His hand was at work during the terrible storm, in which he displayed his awesome power (Psalm 29)! And now he is showing us his incredibly amazing mercy and never-failing love. We are sure that, by his strength and faithfulness, we will rebuild. May we never forget or fail to give thanks to our God for the valuable lessons he has taught us through such a tremendous outpouring of love as we all pitch in and help one another in the all-glorious name of Jesus, our Savior and King!
Our community pastors group is working on a restoration for church members and neighbors.
