More than 150 homes were damaged in the storm, which left a 10-mile stretch of devastation mostly involving fallen trees and branches.
The chaplains have been visiting residents facing loss. They met one 94-year-old widow who began to pray as the storm picked up outside. Suddenly, a tornado came over her house, and she cried out to God, "You are Lord!" A tree fell on her home, but not in the room she was in. "What a testimony to surrendering it all to the Lord," said chaplain coordinator Mike Wingo.
Rain or shine, the chaplains have continued to share the love of Christ with this community, which has strong ties to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). Pastor of First Baptist Church of Spartanburg, Dr. Don Wilton (not pictured), was Billy Graham's pastor for many years.
Each morning before Samaritan's Purse volunteers head out to repair homes, a crisis-trained chaplain leads the group in prayer.
The chaplains have visited and prayed with more than 40 homeowners in the past few days. "The people have been doing remarkably well," chaplain coordinator Mike Wingo said. "There's a strong Christian base here in Spartanburg."
Mike Wingo, who's been a chaplain coordinator for three years and responded to over 25 deployments, lives just 30 miles away from Spartanburg. "The event—a tornado, flood, whatever—is the catalyst that then brings to the surface all the other issues people are dealing with ... whether that be divorce, loss of job, addiction, etc.," Wingo explained. "That gives us an opportunity to tell them about the healing power of Christ." >> Has Christ healed your wounds? Start a relationship with the loving Savior today.
Please keep recovering South Carolinians in your prayers.
