Amidst Hanna’s destruction, new life in Christ

By Marv Knox

On the tails of Hurricane Hanna’s punishing winds, the gentle breeze of God’s Spirit breathed new life into a Rio Grande Valley family.

Thanks in part to financial support from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Disaster Response, CBF Texas has started helping two families rebuild their homes in colonias—poor unincorporated villages—near the U.S.-Mexico border, reported Jorge Zapata, associate coordinator of CBF Texas. 

A family who provided space for the first phase of a church start lost their mobile home to Hanna’s winds. “Through the new church’s members and pastor, we were able to purchase building materials to construct their new home,” Zapata said. “The family did not believe in Christ. But through our help, the father accepted Christ as Savior, because he was able to see that someone cared for his family.”

The other family—also part of the church start, sponsored by New Wine Church in La Feria, Texas—was inside the small travel trailer where they lived when Hanna blew its roof off, he added, noting, “They are building a small 12-foot by 24-foot room as their new home.” 

Because of CBF Disaster Response’s support, CBF Texas has enough funds to support construction or repairs of six homes, including these two, Zapata said. Unfortunately, the homes of more than 600 Rio Grande Valley families either suffered damage or were destroyed.

Hanna was only the mildest of three hurricanes to strike the Gulf Coast this season. CBF Disaster Response also is coordinating recovery efforts for Hurricane Laura, which devastated Lake Charles and southwestern Louisiana, as well as Hurricane Sally, which lashed the Florida Panhandle and southern Alabama. 

To help CBF Texas and Fellowship Southwest support more families whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Hanna, click here.

To help CBF Disaster Response with overall relief for Hurricanes Laura and Sally, click here.

Marv Knox is coordinator of Fellowship Southwest.