A tornado struck the Faith Hill Baptist Church building in Brookfield this week, leaving the congregation without a place to gather for worship.
Despite the damage, church members refused to let the storm stop their weekly service. On Sunday, they met at Harmony Christian Academy, thanks to an offer from the school.
“We’re very thankful, and if we needed to, we would hold our service under a tree. That’s just how we are,” said church member Greg Lawson.
Lawson, his family, and several others were inside the church for Wednesday night service when the tornado approached. As the alert sounded, Lawson said his only thought was to protect his son and everyone nearby.
“We give God the glory for keeping us safe,” he said. “No one was hurt, not even a scratch, and looking at the wreckage, that feels like a miracle.”
Lawson’s son, Ethan, recalled the tense moments as weather alerts buzzed on every phone. “I wasn’t really scared, but I was nervous,” he said.
Ethan explained that all the children were playing in the nursery when his father came to warn them about the tornado. The group gathered, sang “Amazing Grace,” and then the power failed. “We got down on the floor. My dad put his knee over my head in case anything from the ceiling fell,” Ethan said.
Pastor Mark Jennings said the church received support from several groups after the storm, including Harmony Christian Academy. He remains grateful everyone is safe and optimistic about the church’s future.
“We have a lot of cleanup ahead. There’s just so much to do,” Jennings said. “People are coming by, offering help, leaving business cards. It’s a lot to manage, but we’ll get through it.”
For now, the church is waiting to hear from its insurance provider before making further plans. The congregation hopes to rebuild, relying on faith and community support. How would you react if your place of worship was suddenly gone? What keeps a community strong in the face of disaster?
