Last week a series of deadly tornadoes swept through the Midwest and left an path of ruin and destruction in its wake. Atheists and those who are haters of God might ask the question why a good Creator who loves His creation would allow something like this to happen? The truth is, we can never know the answer to that question. We have to trust that God has a plan and a reason for ordaining the things that unfold in this life and that they are somehow meant for our good. He sees the full picture of which we are only given a glimpse.
However, the important thing to note is that God still performs miracles. He is still involved in creation and in the lives of His people. A good case in point is the Freedom Life Church located in Winchester, Indiana. While the members of the church were negatively impacted by the dangerous weather event, which left the vast majority of their town destroyed, most of the members who make up the church body walked away from the whole thing unscathed.
“When we came out, we couldn’t see the road,” Whitney Smith said in comments given to the Indianapolis Star. “Everything was black.”
Smith then said that she began to pray, calling on the matchless and glorious name of Jesus Christ as the power in the church went out and the building started to shake. Then, doing what any good mother would do, Smith recounted laying on top of her two-year-old son in order to protect him as the structure was ripped apart by the tornado’s vicious winds.
via The American Tribune:
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The Smith family continued to express their gratitude toward God for keeping them safe during the event where the family walked away with only minor injuries. Patrick Smith, Whitney’s husband, stated that the family could see another day in light of God’s divine protection.
“While hunkered down in their church, the tornado blew through the building like a wrecking train and tore down the walls… Right on top of them. Because of God’s good grace; Skylar, Whitney, and Thesa were able to escape the wreckage with very little injuries. Scratches at most. Fortunately, a load-bearing wall fell, right they needed it to,” the husband and father noted.. “God protected us,” Smith continued. “I’m just thankful we’re alive.”
This is what a miracle looks like, ladies and gentlemen. It’s not always walking on water or turning staffs into serpents. Sometimes it’s simply the sparing of human lives.
However, not everyone in the Midwest shared the same fortune as the Smith family, where at least three deaths have been recorded. Officials predict that more bodies will be uncovered as debris is cleaned up in the coming days.
During a news conference last week, Winchester Mayor Bob McCoy stated that two homes in the community had been nearly or completely leveled, and over 100 buildings had sustained damage. “I’m shaken; it’s overwhelming,” he said. “I heard what sounded like a train, and then I started hearing sirens.”
“Please pray for our community! Many are hurting physically, materially, mentally, and emotionally during this crisis,” Freedom Life lead pastor Matt Holloway stated. The tornado left the area where Holloway’s church once stood almost totally unrecognizable.
Another miracle that came about as a result of the tornadoes that devastated the area is how the church body isn’t focusing on rebuilding their own sanctuary, but truly being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ by helping those in the community around them.
“Jesus said, ‘In this world you will have trouble … but take heart, for I have overcome the world,” the pastor went on to say. “We trust in Jesus as much now as ever! He is the overcomer! Praying for you all.”
Patrick Smith recently created an online fundraiser to help cover the unexpected expenses that have arisen from the devastation caused by the weather event. “I have created this GoFundMe in hopes to raise donations in support of the upcoming hospital bills that the Hanlin’s will be facing, as well as, help with cost of living while Eric will be recovering from surgery. He will be out of work for 3 months while he rehabs and gets back to 100%,” Smith explained.
The folks at Freedom Life Church are the definition of what it means to be like Christ. Pray for them and their community to heal and grow in their trust and love of Jesus.