JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — There are some stories you just can’t get enough of. Tragedy gets your attention, but it's often how the people impacted by it overcame adversity that keeps you hooked.
Staying faithful during the storm is something that members of the New Commandment Church of God in Christ know firsthand after March 31st, 2023.
Pastor Eddie Miller remembers the two days after the storm on Palm Sunday when service was held outside with a tornado-torn building as its backdrop.
“It was so surreal just to see everyone out there in the midst, not caring that, or maybe caring, but not allowing the build destruction of the building be a hindrance to us giving praise to God, to know that what I've been teaching and preaching all those years, really took, it really landed in their hearts and they really believed God," he recalled.
According to Pastor Miller, faith has carried them thus far.
Last year, just three weeks after paying off their mortgage, the church was destroyed by an EF-3 tornado. However, that disaster only made way for a testimony.
“The last 365 days have really been miracles and that's what it has been miracle after miracle. I mean, I have never even been stressed about what we're going to do not one day," Pastor Miller said. "If money got low, I didn't worry about it.”
From neighboring cities to other congregations stepping up to help, Pastor Miller said that help has come in from all corners— including monks from Idaho and believers in Canada.
“I had one little boy from Mexico sent me a letter and he said, Pastor Miller, I saw your story and I want to help you build your church back. So I'm sending you my money, he sent me a $20 bill," he said.
After years of sowing a seed, the fruits of their harvest are finally sprouting.
“The square footage over there, it was around 8000 square feet. Over here is over 15,000 square feet. So it's twice as big as what we had over there," Pastor Miller said.
Built on a foundation in the shape of a cross, their new location is just across the street from its previous place of worship.
The ‘new’ New Commandment is officially starting a new chapter that’s already paid off by a private donor.
The sanctuary that once sat 300 will now be able to sit upward of 600.
“We'll have 10 classrooms, which we needed tremendously. Because over there, we had like four and we were not able to really separate the children as they needed," Pastor Miller described.
Children on the south side of the building will be trained and taught, while service to the community will be a priority in the north wing.
“We have a clothes closet, food closet, and that's not the biggest thing. The biggest thing is we had a shower put in, we got the shower, the bathroom area where when they come in to get clothes, they can go and take a shower get cleaned up, they can smell good, they can look good and feel good about themselves," Pastor Miller said.
While all things will appear new, something old and blue will serve as a reminder of how far they’ve come.
“These windows actually were the windows that were in the other building. When the tornado hit. It sucked them out but didn't break him. So, that's why I said we have to use these windows again," Pastor Miller described.
If you recall the three crosses that remained untouched in the battered sanctuary, they too will return.
“They showed me that God says I’m with you in spite of the storm, despite the destruction. I am right here," he said.
Pastor Miller said it’s a story that should never be forgotten.
However, when told, he added don’t forget to add that although they were down to nothing their faith pushed them back to the top.
“I couldn't write a book this big or is this interesting? If I just told you everything that happened here it would blow your mind. No one has done any work on the grounds of the building that has taken what it really costs to do it. Everybody said hey, I'm associated with your work. I'm going to sow a seed into this because the way God is blessing you and blessing this... this is bigger than you," Pastor Miller said.
The plan is to open the doors to the sanctuary late this Spring.