COWARD, SC (WBTW) – For the last seven months members at the Coward Church of God have rebuilt after their church was destroyed in the October flood.
Sunday a special re-dedication service was held at the church and honored those in the community who helped make it happen.
“Really today this is not just about a re-dedication of a facility but a re-dedication of our lives,” said guest speaker for the service Bishop Thomas Gillum.
Church members say they found a new sense of purpose in the difficult times.
“It was pretty bad to start off with but now I think it’s beautiful and it took a lot of hard work,” said Carrie Herron.
“It was really devastating when we saw it. Some said they wouldn’t cry but most of us did break down and cry,” added Jo Ellen Hudson.
“It’s like were starting over again. It looks good and we’re just glad to be able to have church again,” mentioned April Caraway.
During the historic floods seven months ago the church suffered damages throughout the entire building nearly everything, even down to the carpet had to be replaced.
Coward Church of God Pastor Kevin Byrd says the cost to fix the church totaled more than $100,000 but with the help of the community they were able to cut that number more than half of what they initially expected to spend.
“Majority of what was done was all free labor, just with the folks coming in and helping. Pastor we can do sheet rock, pastor we can do this, we can put up molding, we can cut trim, we can do all these things. You don’t think that people care anymore but the truth is people do care and we found that out through this process,” explained Byrd.
A seven month process that has finally come to an end.