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Houston Covenant Church Damaged by Tornado
HOUSTON, TX (October 10, 2003) - Faith Community Evangelical Covenant Church was
extensively damaged by a tornado that devastated various areas in the
greater Houston region. Several modular units as part of the Faith
Community facility were affected.
Thankfully, no one was hurt when the tornado touched down and the main
worship facility is relatively unscathed. The tornado was one of several
that hit the Houston area as the city experienced 2-3 inches of rain in
various locations.
Pastor Paul Meador said that the only person in the building at the time
the tornado touched down was church secretary Grace McCullough. She dove
under a desk as the tornado blew through the building, demolishing the
glass back wall of the office where McCullough and Meador work.
McCullough's quick actions probably saved her from injury, the pastor
added. After the tornado hit, a large piece of glass was imbedded in the
desk McCullough used for cover.
As the tornado blew through the facility, a modular unit that houses youth
ministries was lifted off and the roof was ripped apart. Significant damage
to another modular unit that houses children's ministries occurred and the
front wall of the main church building was
also hit as a large window was broken in the church's sanctuary.
"We're looking to God as to what He would have us do now," said Meador this
morning. "The worship center is pretty much untouched. The damage was in
the playground, which was destroyed, and our youth and children's
(portable) buildings."
Midsouth Conference Supt. Garth Bolinder and Steve Dawson of the
Evangelical Covenant Church's Department of Church Growth and Evangelism
met with Meador Thursday night to discuss the next steps to recovering from
the tornado. Structural engineer and insurance representatives will examine
the facility as soon as possible
to assess the damage. The congregation has been in existence for 18 years
in an area that includes about 2,000 homes in northwest Houston. The future
ministries for impacting the neighborhood may be available, but for now
Faith Community is focusing on the next few days.
"This is one of those 'do the next thing next' times," said Angie Meador,
Paul's wife, as she considered her church's future.
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