Covenant News

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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