After Helene, a Baptist congregation looks for answers and solace and ways to help

First Baptist Church returned to its pews Sunday morning for the first time since Helene devastated Western North Carolina.

Before the service, parishioners gathered in small groups, checking in on each other, asking how they’d fared.

“Did you lose power?” one woman asked another.

“Four days,” came the response.

At the door, Bill Teague told a pair of newcomers that his farm had largely done all right but that he’d spent the last week tossing everything from a neighbor’s flooded home — clothes, furniture, appliances — before starting in on the drywall.

About 100 people attended service at First Baptist in Waynesville on Sunday. A week before, with cell service and the power grid still hindered, First Baptist held a prayer service in the parking lot.

The power may have been back on Sunday — the microphones worked, and the lights, and the screens showing the words of hymns — but the air conditioning for the worship hall and many of the church’s other spaces was still out, damaged when the power went out during Helene. And the company that services the systems for the church can’t even access its offices yet.

At the beginning of Sunday’s service, the Rev. Robert Prince, First Baptist’s lead pastor, called those who wanted to the front to say a prayer for those impacted by the storm. About 25 people came to the front of the chapel, some kneeling on one knee, others on two. Some worshipers shrouded their eyes with their hands.

“In the midst of our devastation, we turn towards you. We do wait for you, Lord, we do seek you. There’s been so much loss, so much grief in our area and across this whole part of the state, in other states. And God, in this moment, we humbly turn to you. We need your power, we need your strength, we need your perseverance,” Prince said.

Those praying were seeking help from God to grapple with the shock of witnessing Helene’s destruction and with the emotions that come in the aftermath, Prince said. They were also seeking guidance as a congregation to provide aid to those in need in Western North Carolina.

As Prince gave his sermon Sunday he leaned forward, braced on his right arm and gesturing with his left hand. He addressed uncertainties, ranging from why the storm happened in Western North Carolina, to why it was so devastating, to why certain people died.

“When people ask us why, I think the word from the Lord is, we don’t really know,” Prince said.

At the same time, Prince said, he is sure that God is present in Western North Carolina, working through the people who are responding to the storm.

“God is here, God is with you and God is going to bring us through this,” Prince said.

First Baptist is also trying to help its neighbors, including efforts to help people grapple with the scope of the disaster and participating in countywide disaster relief efforts.

Nina Atwood, First Baptist’s pastor for community engagement, told the parishioners that the church is planning to open its chapel from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every weekday to afford people a place to pray as they try to understand the disaster.

“There are folks who just need a way to pray,” Atwood said.

When First Baptist did that Wednesday, six people came in. Four of those prayed by themselves, two needed someone to pray with them.

“Let them feel what they feel, let them think what they think and just be there with them through it,” Atwood said.

This story was produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. The N&O maintains full editorial control of the work. If you would like to help support local journalism, please consider signing up for a digital subscription, which you can do here.

This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 12:17 PM.

Adam Wagner

The News & Observer

919-829-4669

Adam Wagner covers climate change and other environmental issues in North Carolina. His work is produced with financial support from the Hartfield Foundation and Green South Foundation, in partnership with Journalism Funding Partners, as part of an independent journalism fellowship program. Wagner’s previous work at The News & Observer included coverage of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and North Carolina’s recovery from recent hurricanes. He previously worked at the Wilmington StarNews.