In the last week of May, three to six inches of rain fell in Hendersonville in a very short amount of time – flooding some of the same communities that had been devastated by Hurricane Helene only a year and a half before. Rivers, creeks, and streams rose overnight, covering roads, fields, and everything else within reach with swiftly moving water. For some, the whole experience was traumatic—the heavy rain that wouldn’t stop, bringing back memories of the far worse storm from nineteen months prior. One homeowner mentioned that as the storm intensified, she began moving treasured belongings and family keepsakes to higher places in case it rose like the hurricane. Others carefully packed personal items into their cars, ready to leave at a moment's notice, remembering what it was like the last time waters rose. Some residents were more indifferent. “It floods all the time here,” they shrugged. It’s a great reminder that healing comes in waves, and not everyone responds the same way. 

ReachGlobal Crisis Response and our partner churches have invested a lot of time and focus on Clear Creek Landing, one community that saw almost every home damaged in Helene. Before Helene, Clear Creek Landing was a very quiet place—the residents freely admit that they didn’t know each other very well, if at all. They all had pull-in garages; it wasn’t hard to avoid talking to people. After Helene, for about a year, the neighborhood was constantly bustling, not just with homeowners and ReachGlobal staff, but with countless volunteers from all over the country. And every day, prayer washed over that little street! Needs were brought before the throne of God, people were lifted before Him, and praises were rejoiced over. We had asked, above all else, that God’s hand would stay in that place—that He would continue to work in the hearts of the homeowners after Crisis Response was gone.  

So once the storm was ending, our staff hopped in trucks and went to check on that neighborhood. We haven’t been working there for about two months now; the last house was finished in early April. No volunteers have served there since March. And praise be to God- the Clear Creek Landing community is stronger than ever. As our staff met the first homeowner outside and began walking down the street, front doors opened one by one. Neighbors stepped onto porches and into driveways. Before long, there was one big group chatting together, checking in on one another, sharing updates, and offering reassurance. The water in their backyards hadn’t gone down an inch before they seized the opportunity to minister to one another’s needs, without even thinking about it.  

Praise the Lord. He is still at work in Clear Creek Landing and shows no signs of stopping. Our staff continue to facilitate a community Bible study for residents to learn more about Christ and the gospel. Please pray that as the neighbors grow closer and care for each other, that Christ’s love would become more and more evident in that community. And please keep praying for our Helene Response that is now investing in other communities with the hope that other neighborhoods will experience the love of Christ and be transformed.