Local Church Stands Tall Amid Power Crisis in Spartanburg
You know times are tough when the standard Sunday greeting in a local church goes from ‘Good morning’ to ‘do you have power’. This was the scenario in Spartanburgโs St. James United Methodist Church this past Sunday.
The Rev. Andrew Wolfe led the service that morning, a day after his power got back after more than a week of being in the dark. He noted, โThe needs here in Spartanburg are great, but as we go farther up the mountain, the needs get greater and greater.โ
Church Offers Relief to Community
St. James United Methodist Church is part of a wider regional effort to collect supplies which ultimately will be sent off to Western North Carolina. Collections will be channelled through Bethel United Methodist Church, a significant hub in Spartanburg, from where the supplies are expected to be in North Carolina by midweek.
The day the storm hit, the church had also prepared a large BBQ plate fundraiser. With the storm wreaking havoc all around, instead of letting all the food spoil, they innovatively turned their fundraiser into a community outreach. Mary Lu Saylor, a church administrator, remarked proudly that the church served more than 300 meals the first day after the storm.
Church opens doors for the neighborhood
St. James went even further than just providing food. They opened their doors for neighbors to come take showers or cook food while the power was out. They expanded their previously planned afterschool program, The Kickin’ Kids, from a couple of kids planned for a few hours to an all-day camp for around 50 children.
Duke Energy reported nearly 900 homes in the Woodland Heights area surrounding the church were still out of power as of Sunday afternoon. Across Spartanburg County, the number of residents without power is an alarming 20,000.
Community resolves to recover
A series of electric workers were observed cutting debris and reconnecting lines to houses throughout the service, a testament to the community’s resilience and determination. However, it’s clear the storm’s aftermath still follows, with homes crushed under trees and streets scattered with debris, limbs, and fallen trees.
Rev. Bryant Sims, a key figure in the South Carolina Southern Baptist Convention, indicated that the convention has provided 10,000 meals, over 1,400 days’ worth of volunteer work, and free chainsaw services in South Carolina since the storm hit. They also plan on sending relief crews to North Carolina and Tennessee to assist with water damage.
The hurricane resulted in significant tree damage to several of the conventionโs significant sites, including damage to some buildings. However, the Rev. Sims stated, “Helene brought destruction, but one of the things about South Carolina. Baptist disaster relief… is as long as people are calling for help, we’ll keep working.”
In times of crisis, the true character of a community shines through, and in Spartanburg, it’s a beacon of hope โ unwavering and bright. As they come together in the face of adversity, their message is clear: We will not back down. We will stand together.
