By Baptist Message staff
WISNER, La. (LBM) – High winds from a severe storm that passed through Wisner, Dec. 28, destroyed the fellowship hall of Holly Grove Baptist Church.
One of several storms to strike communities in Louisiana that day, the damage occurred around 10:30 p.m. when 55 mph winds caused a tree to fall onto the roof of the facility, Pastor Dennis Fontenot told the Baptist Message.
Fontenot said he is grateful that the church (which averages 40-50 in Sunday morning worship) had insurance and that no one was inside the building at the time of the storm.
Until the church builds a new fellowship hall, the senior adult class that met there for Sunday school will be relocated to the worship center.
“Even though it’s a loss, we are blessed,” Fontenot said. “By the grace of God, the incident occurred on a Saturday evening. If it had taken place a few hours later, some of our senior adults would have been injured or even killed because where the tree fell is the exact spot where they met for Sunday school.”
Meanwhile, a Mississippi Baptist Convention congregation, O’Zion Baptist Church in Meadville, was destroyed when a tornado hit the facility around 3:30 p.m., Dec. 28. According to the Mississippi Baptist Record news journal, the church met the following day in the home of a church member.
The National Weather Service confirmed that at least 88 tornadoes touched down across the South, Dec. 26-29. At least four people died, and thousands were left without power.
Donations may be mailed to Holly Grove Baptist Church, c/o Gail McKee, 5100 Hwy. 562, Wisner, LA 71378.
