A Boat Ride in the Storm

When Katrina roared ashore in the early morning hours of September 6, Trina Wells had family and friends in her home. As the water began to rise, the group had to seek higher elevation to escape the flood waters. Eventually, they all ended up on the roof of the house, in the storm surge with 150 mph winds. In the darkness of the hurricane, they began to call for help from the roof top to anyone who might hear them. Some in the group began praying out loud. As the water rose, they feared for their lives. Then a miraculous answer to prayer happened.

Seemingly from nowhere, an empty boat blew up against the roof! Everyone scrambled into the boat to escape the rising waters. Without any oars or motor, they drifted through the blinding storm - until the boat jammed itself up against a two story brick building and some higher ground. The group clamored into the second story of their new port in the storm. They found an empty room on an upper level and waited for the dawn.

The next morning, the group ventured outside to survey the damage from Katrina. They were surprised to discover the building where they had spent the night was the Victory Praise and Worship Center Church of the Nazarene. Before long, they were greeted by Pastor Myron Hairston, District Superintendent Rob McDonald and the team of relief workers from Nazarene Disaster Relief.

Pastor Myron recognized several in the group as individuals he had invited to worship services. One of Trina's friends had been one of the marines Pastor Hairston had invited to church several times. No one could have predicted that the first time they came to church would literally save their lives!

When Pastor Myron first arrived at Victory Praise and Worship Church of the Nazarene the morning after the storm, Trina's first question to the NDR team that morning was "Are you going to make us leave?" District Superintendent Rob McDonald and the rest of the team assured them they could stay as long as they needed and definitely until further assistance arrived. The NDR team surveyed storm damages at the church and began the preparations for their relief efforts.

Within hours volunteers from other Nazarene churches and agencies began to arrive with emergency supplies. This Church of the Nazarene in Gautier, Mississippi became one of the staging areas for distributing food and water to residents who had not evacuated as well as the dozens of emergency workers who were working in the community. As clean up efforts continue and repairs on the Victory Praise and Worship Center continue, many in the community are beginning to see the church in a new way, especially a group of Trina Well's family and friends.