Churches damaged by floodwaters in hurricane-ravaged Texas held makeshift services on Sunday in tents, parking lots and even batting cages.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott had declared Sunday a ‘Day of Prayer’ across the state and urged residents to be steeled by their beliefs at a time of crisis.
Pastors of the First Baptist Church in Rockport held their service outside in a tent after their church was severely damaged during the deadly storms.
Members of the congregation brought along camping chairs as they crowded into the tent.
Church members gather inside and around a tent for service at First Baptist Church of Rockport on Sunday after their church suffered severe damage from Hurricane Harvey
First Baptist Church of Rockport had its front wall ripped off during the deadly hurricane
Only days before Harvey hit, congregants at Christ United Church of Cypress had celebrated returning to their beloved church after a long absence.
In the spring of 2016, the building had been devastated by a storm that forced the congregation to gut the historic structure and rebuild. Now they will have to start again after the small brick church suffered extensive damage.
About 60 people gathered for the service where Pastor Jeffrey Willey said he reminded his congregation that ‘the church is not the building. We are the church.’
At the Pine Forest Baptist Church in Vidor about 45 people gathered for a service in the parking lot after the church was flooded.
Pat Lawrence and her fiance, Jim Frasier, arrived on a tractor after navigating the floodwaters that had left some homes cut off, like islands.
Becky Livingston plays the keyboard during service at First Baptist Church of Rockport as members of the congregation gathered with their camping chairs
Pastor Barry Jeffries talks to about 2,000 church members as they gather in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church
Church members gather in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church after their church was damaged by floodwater
Samaritans lock arms in prayer after helping clear furniture from the flooded house of a neighbor. Texas Governor Greg Abbott had declared Sunday a ‘Day of Prayer’
‘You can’t hardly comprehend all the water that’s around,’ Lawrence said.
‘My house is not flooded, but getting out is flooded. I’ve been in my house since last Saturday,’ she added. ‘We came on the tractor because we wanted to come to church.’
Associate Pastor Dale Prudhome told the congregants that prayer would help sustain them. After the service, he announced where supplies were being distributed, and what roads were passable.
With people around the world praying for Texas, ‘that’s going to give you the strength to carry on,’ he said. ‘To know that your brothers and sisters are there beside you. That they’re mourning with you. They’re struggling on your behalf in prayer.’
At the First Baptist Church in Humble a morning service was also held for about 2,000 people in the parking lot. A pile of debris was stacked at one end of the lot, the church that was once flooded with more than 2 feet of water on the other. Hundreds of volunteers have been helping strip the building of damaged materials.
Brittanie Root, of Kingwood, kisses her son Kaden Root, 1, during Sunday service of First Baptist Humble in the church’s parking lot
Church members are seen through the window of a water damaged room as they gather in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church for Sunday service
Sadie Brink (left) prays with Risa Zizmont (center) and Susan Deloney (right) near the batting cages at Athletes Sports Training in Port Arthur
Cathy Norris and her husband Danny Norris (center) pray alongside members of their United Methodist Temple congregation. They held their service at an athletics facility on Sunday
The United Methodist Temple in Port Arthur held its service in the batting cages at an athletics facility owned by one of their church members.
The service at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch was filled with talk of the deadly storm and its aftermath
‘Harvey came, but it didn’t take us out,’ Osteen said, after congregants listened to a live band accompanied by a light show, while many of the attendees stood and waved their arms.
‘We are going to come out of this stronger than before.’
The televangelist and his Lakewood Church had been criticized last week on social media for not offering to shelter people driven out of their homes. The church later opened its doors for those in need.
Osteen urged those at the service and those watching online: ‘Don’t run away from your faith, run to your faith.’
Pastor Joel Osteen said that God knew Houston could ‘handle’ the devastating Hurricane Harvey during his Sunday service
Parishioners of the Lakewood Church led by Pastor Joel Osteen pray together during the service
Church members react as they listen to the reading of scriptures and sermon by Pastor Dale Lee during the morning service at Cowboy Church in Orange
Chad Campbell wipes his eyes as his father R. C. Campbell hugs daughter-in-law Anne Campbell during the morning service at Cowboy Church