A Pennsylvania pastor credits the protection of God’s hand with the survival of all 100 people in attendance when a tornado struck his church building during a service, damaging the roof and spire. Members of Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville, Pennsylvania, were worshiping Saturday night just after 6 p.m. local time when a twister passed through town and struck the Crossroads Ministries building. Rhonda Varner, the pastor’s wife, was singing on stage at the time. During the service’s online broadcast, the camera shakes before the broadcast ends abruptly.
“I could see the lights flickering and going out,” she said. WPXI-11 News. “I thought I heard the windows start to break, then it sounded like a train passing by, and then more windows started to break.”
Attendee Linda Desing explained A terrifying situation.
“As we were sitting there singing hymns, the lights started flickering,” Desing told KDKA. “Suddenly, one of the windows blew out and everyone ducked for cover. I never want to go through something like that again. I thought about what it would be like to get caught in a tornado, but I never wanted anything like this to happen again. I don’t want to experience it.”
The tornado ripped off the roof of an office building and threw it into the nearby woods. It threw the steeple into the car. Pastor Ken Varner said God protected everyone. There were about 100 members and participants, some of whom were born for the planned baby dedication.
“We witnessed a complete miracle. The hand of Almighty God was upon us,” Varner said in his Sunday sermon the next morning.
Several people suffered cuts and bruises, but no one died or was hospitalized.
“I’m very grateful for that,” Varner said. “We are standing on the promise of God right now. … We know we will get through this.”
Furthermore, “This is just a building. … God is using us as His church.”
Barber read several scriptures during his sermon. Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the refuge of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
“God has protected His children,” Varner said.
The damage was so widespread that the church canceled in-person Sunday morning services and limited them to online services. Barber wrote on the church’s Facebook page: Everyone was evacuated to the basement, but no one was injured. …Please join me in thanking God for His protection upon us. Thank you, Pastor Ken. ”
The National Weather Service said the twister was likely an EF-2 tornado, meaning it would have had winds of 111 to 135 mph.
Photo credit: WPXI-11 News
Michael Faust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years.His story is published below baptist press, Christianity Today, christian post, of leaf chronicle, of toronto star And that Knoxville News Sentinel.
