A Local Church is Asking for Aid with Repairs After Storm
Bright Star Missionary Church has not yet recovered from a storm that tore through Natchez in December of last year, and members of the congregation are asking the public for aid with repairs.
The storm, which caused multiple cases of property damage and the tragic loss of life for a teen resident, occurred on December 28, 2024. Part of the reported property damage took place on the steeple of the Bright Star Missionary Church, and was so severe that the place of worship has not yet been deemed safe to open.
The severe weather caused the church’s steeple to shift, leading to a leak in the ceiling, which, unfortunately, caused ceiling tiles to fall into the sanctuary. Additionally, the Church’s foyer was compromised, and the building has been deemed unsafe. One churchgoer stated that they had no idea that any damage had been inflicted upon the church before attending, and so when members of the congregation arrived for Sunday school, they were turned away.
Storms are not an uncommon occurrence here in Natchez, and many of us have our own ways of dealing with them. General advice involves staying up to date with alerts, keeping away from doors and windows, and stocking up on essentials beforehand. Many of us also try to find various ways to keep entertained and take our minds off the raging weather outside. For some people, that involves reading a book and watching a film. For others, it could involve enjoying the bonuses and large game catalogs included on the best new sweep casinos.
That being said, however, we all know the anxiety of emerging from our homes after a storm and assessing the damage. For the congregation of Bright Star Missionary Church, the damage to their place of worship was so profound that the building has still not been fully repaired even now, five months down the line. As such, these worshipers have been unable to congregate in their usual Church.
In an effort to speed up the repair process, the congregation has requested the aid of the community and has set up a GoFundMe page in hopes of earning enough to claim their Church back. Unfortunately, insurance no longer covers the necessary repairs, due to both the age and the condition of the building.
Already, many members of our community, and various church goers have done what they can, and carried out minor repairs on the Church, but the work that needs doing now must be carried out by professionals. As such, if anyone can offer anything to the congregation of Bright Star Missionary Church, they would be incredibly grateful.
In light of the recent storm, we offer our well-wishes to all those affected, and would like to remind the community to look out for one another during what may be a very difficult time. It is important to always prepare for storms, to ensure the safety of our neighbours, especially if they are elderly, and to have an action plan in case the situation should worsen rapidly.
