On Sunday morning, Sept. 29, 2024, the sun came out in Spruce Pine, North Carolina, after two days of storms spurred by Hurricane Helene.
High winds, flooding and mudslides had knocked out power, internet and communications.
The Rev. Holly Cobb McKim headed for Spruce Pine United Methodist Church. About a dozen members of the congregation also navigated downed trees and power lines to make their way to the church. Someone had started a campfire and cooked breakfast. Someone else brought bottled water.
McKim recalls this wonderful time of fellowship as the congregation prayed and made a list of folks to check on. In the days that followed, all members of Spruce Pine UMC were accounted for. The congregation then turned their attention to helping their neighbors.
(video transcript)
The Rev. Holly Cobb McKim, pastor of Spruce Pine United Methodist Church: “Spruce Pine United Methodist Church is known as the church on the hill. They may not know what denomination we are. They just know that we help.
“Very early, I prayed this prayer, very simple prayer. ‘God give us what we need when we need it.’ And that happens over and over and over and over again.”
For weeks following Hurricane Helene, every square foot of Spruce Pine United Methodist Church was in service to the community, with a food pantry, clothing closet …
McKim: “We had baby formula, diapers, at one time there literally was a path door-to-door and things were stacked up over five feet.”
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Children’s ministry rooms became dormitories and a temporary shower was set up outside for the hundreds of United Methodist volunteers who visit for a week at a time to serve.
David Morgan Walp, member of Floris United Methodist Church in Herndon, Virginia: “We’re a church that does stuff. We’re not just a social club. We actually strongly believe in service. We’ve made a commitment to come down here once a month for the foreseeable future. This is my second trip.”
Needs changed over time. Four weeks in, people still didn’t have electricity or potable water.
McKim: “You know, use a baby bottle and you can’t wash it thoroughly, can’t sterilize it, so you need another baby bottle.”
The donations continued. Prayers answered for small items … and bigger ones like heaters, generators and money. Moving forward with rebuilding, monetary donations are the greatest need.
McKim: “I’ve been United Methodist all my entire life. How many times have we taken up special offerings for UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief? And we’ve sent money, and there’s always been a number associated with a hurricane or some kind of disaster, wildfires. And this is the first time it’s been right here in my own backyard. That’s actually a very humbling experience. I’m very humbled by all of this. Learning how to receive everything that everyone has given us has been extremely humbling and gives me hope in humanity.”
(end video)
To help those devastated by Hurricane Helene and other recent natural disasters, donations can be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief’s U.S. Disaster Response. UMCOR also offers resources for disaster relief fundraising.
UM News contact: Julie Dwyer at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umnews.org. To read more news from The United Methodist Church, subscribe to the free Daily Digest or Weekly Digest.
