Tornado didn’t stop one area congregation from celebrating Easter

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- It’s been 8 weeks since an EF-3 tornado barreled through Columbus, destroying everything in its path, including the First Pentecostal Church of Columbus.

The congregation gathered together on what’s left of the building’s foundation to celebrated Easter.

“February 23, the building was destroyed but not the church,” said Senior Pastor Steve Blaylock.

Members of the First Pentecostal Church of Columbus gathered together Easter morning to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ– and perhaps a symbolic resurrection of their own.

“The best way to pull up out of tragedy, the best way to stand up out of ashes and get something good out of it, is to give God glory in all things… Now we’re in the process of trying to move forward, and we’re trying to find out everything we’re going to have to meet with FEMA regulations and city codes. We are projecting forward and going to build a beautiful new sanctuary,” said Blaylock.

Church member Jack Davis said he and his wife were the first ones on the scene after the devastating tornado.

“From seeing that destruction and seeing where we are today and being able to celebrate easter out here with the kids to do an Easter egg hunt, great weather, it’s just awesome. It just shows us what God’s able to do and what he’s going to do for our church,” said Davis.

Members of the congregation said the church was never about the building but the people inside.

“The unison that we have, the togetherness that this church has, no matter the building, no matter the circumstances, we’re going to stay strong and we’re going to stick together and we’re going to see this thing through,” said Davis.

“It’s these people. All of these people here that come and allow me to be their shepard and we share a life together. We laugh together. We cry together. We have baby dedications together. We have funerals together… Marriages. The whole life is together,” said Blaylock.

Blaylock said despite not having a building at the moment, the church is remaining optimistic.

“This church had been here for 40 years, and God gave it and you know what, the storm took it away, but blessed be the name of the Lord anyway… Rebuilding, Better, Together. Not one of us can do it by ourselves. It’s all of us together,” said Blaylock.

Blaylock also said the church hopes to have a new building by summer time next year.