Tornado Damaged Church Celebrates Easter

Church looks to special Easter service

A tornado may have damaged the St. Barnabas United Methodist Church in Arlington, but it did not keep members from worshiping on this Easter Sunday.

Hundreds came out to participate in the annual "Sonrise Service" held on the St. Barnabas lawn.

This despite damage after a tornado swept through the city of Arlington, damaging homes, cars, and nearly destroying their church building last Tuesday.

The church had to close its doors due to major damage to the sanctuary, children's life center and other parts of the church.

And with the damage and destruction in the background, church members say they feel this Easter service was particularly special.

"It would probably be more special than any other Easter morning in a long time... what matters is we are still here," said church member Lisa Odom.

In the past close to 60 members would attend, but this year nearly 400 arrived with lawn chairs and blankets ready to worship.

The service lasted for about an hour, music filled the air leaving many to feel that the service gave them much needed hope and perspective on recent events,

"You don't really understand the true meaning of it until something like this happens, and it just reminds you that to be thankful for everything," said Odom.

"Today it has a different flavor you see the wounded church in the back, but we're the church, the people, and we are not wounded. And we are going to go out and do more for the glory of the Lord," said church member Kay Jackson.

The church leaders say it will take months to rebuild the church and hope to see it complete by this summer.

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