Tornado Ravaged Most Of The Buildings But Kentucky Church Cross Remained Standing
December 15, 2021

Despite extensive damage caused by a historic Kentuck tornado in 2021, a church cross remained standing as a beacon of hope for the devastated community.
When a deadly tornado ripped across Kentucky in 2021, Wes Fowler of First Baptist Mayfield and his family took shelter in a tunnel beneath the church alongside the youth pastor and his family.
RELATED: Only 1 of 3 Crosses Remained Standing After An Easter Tornado And It Holds A Powerful Message
"We heard and saw the ceiling tiles in the tunnel violently shaking up and down, falling out," the Pastor recalled. "The tunnel filled with debris and dirt. There was a cloud of smoke in the tunnel. It was a very, very scary situation."
Those hiding in the tunnel feared they wouldn't survive the horrifying ordeal. But they made it through safely. However, when they emerged from their bunker, they were surrounded by unimaginable destruction.
"We went out to see some of the debris and to see some of the destruction, and it was just a very bad scene," Wes explained. "Every part of our structure is damaged – ceilings ripped off, roofs ripped off, windows busted out. Just a devastating scene."
Kentucky Tornado 2021 Leaves A Wake Of Ruin
At least 74 people were killed in a historic tornado that ravaged Mayfield and other parts of Kentucky. And amidst the aftermath, it's hard to see anything besides utter desolation.
But amongst all the rubble and collapsed buildings, the First Baptist Mayfield church cross remained standing.
"That cross that we put up in the window is still there and the window is gone. Everything else is gone. But the cross still stands," said Barry Fowler, a member from the church.
For some, it may not feel like much. But for the members of the congregation and community, the church cross serves as a reminder to God's people that though they are pressed on every side, they are not crushed (2 Corinthians 4:8).
RELATED: Preschoolers Sing ‘Jesus Loves Me’ As Tornado Rips Roof Off Their Church
"Most of the structures in Mayfield are damaged," Wes Fowler tweeted, "and many have crumbled to the ground, but the Gospel will remain for eternity."
Most of the structures in Mayfield are damaged, and many have crumbled to the ground, but the Gospel will remain for eternity. pic.twitter.com/by9CW6Ssof
— Wes Fowler (@jwfowler128) December 13, 2021
Church Cross Brings Hope
On Sunday, just a couple of days after the Kentucky tornado 2021, the congregation of First Baptist Mayfield gathered at the sanctuary to sing, pray and worship.
"In the middle of the storm, there's only one place where we truly have peace," Pastor Wes preached to them. "And that's when we place our faith and our trust in Jesus."
Indeed, this broken world will always bring its share of suffering. That's when we lean on our faith and find the light in the darkness.
"The Lord is kind. He will see us through this tragic situation," Pastor Wes Fowler wrote on Facebook. "I believe the Lord will somehow use this difficult time for His glory."
Our hearts and prayers go out to all who were impacted by the Kentucky tornado.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Bible Found Untouched After Tornado Rips Through Chapel
"For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass wither, and the flower thereof falls away: But the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached to you." 1 Peter 1:24-25
WATCH: Church Cross Survives History Kentucky Tornado 2021
LISTEN: Missing 3-Year-Old Found Alive And The Man Who Found Him Says It Was All God | God Puts 7 Off-Duty Firefighters On The Right Flight At The Right Time To Save A Man’s Life
h/t: Christian Headlines
Featured Image Credit: Youtube/Washington Post
Mel is the senior writer for GodUpdates, finding, writing and sharing Christian, uplifting, and health-related stories from around the world. Mel has a passion for writing and graduated with a degree in English from Randolph-Macon College in Virginia. When she’s not researching and writing stories, Mel is very active in her church. You can usually find Mel playing board games with her husband and two young girls, giving someone a hug, or hunting down a good cup of coffee!
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Begin Hiding in God - Your Daily Prayer - May 12
Instead of hiding from God in guilt and shame, Scripture invites us to hide in Him—finding freedom, forgiveness, and love in His compassionate embrace.
Today's Devotional
A Prayer to Begin Hiding in God - Your Daily Prayer - May 12
Instead of hiding from God in guilt and shame, Scripture invites us to hide in Him—finding freedom, forgiveness, and love in His compassionate embrace.
Past Stories
- Brave Man Jumps Into Water to Save Woman After She Was Attacked By Bull Shark
- She Was Going to Miss Prom After Breaking Her Back at a Trampoline Park, the Hospital Had Other Plans
- Mom Finds Hope After Tragedy, Hears Her Daughter’s Heartbeat in a Child Who Got a Second Chance
- 90-Year-Old Cancer Survivor Has Saved Over 10,000 Animals, and She’s Still Not Slowing Down
- First Responders Rescue 9-Month-Old From House Fire By Going Through Window
- Playful Black Bear Climbs Playground and Rides the Slide, Just Like a Kid
- Singer Michael Bolton Opens Up About His Aggressive Brain Cancer Diagnosis
- Brave 5-Year-Old Climbs 35 Feet Up a Tree, Firefighters Rush to the Rescue
- Woman Finds Her Father After Almost 28 Years — And Learns the Truth About Why He Left
- Woman Saves Her Late Son’s Best Friend’s Mom With a Life-Changing Donation
- An Indie Bookstore Asked for Help, What Happened Next Will Warm Your Heart
- From Teen Sweethearts to 80 Years of Marriage: ‘God Was So Good to Give Him to Me’
- WWII Veteran Celebrates His 101st Birthday and 75 Years of Marriage to His Loving Wife
- 88-Year-Old Korean War Veteran and Great-Grandfather Graduates From College
- One Year After Losing Boys in a Fire, Parents Find Light in the Form of a Beautiful Blessing
- They Dress Up As Disney Princesses to Bring Joy and Hope to Sick Children, and it's Amazing
- This Couple Parents Triplets and Foster Sons from Wheelchairs, and It’ll Leave You Inspired
- Two-Year-Old is Found By Rancher's Dog After Walking 7 Miles From Home
- Couple Reunites 15-Year-Old Blind Dog With Owners After Finding Her in the Wilderness
- He Saved Her Life in a Pool Accident Five Years Ago, Now They Are Engaged
- Actress Chrissy Metz Left Hollywood For Nashville and She Couldn't Be Happier
- Stranger Helps 81-Year-Old Waitress Who Couldn't Afford to Retire, Now Her Prayers Have Been Answered
- 49-Year-Old Melanie Barratt Becomes First Blind Woman to Swim the English Channel
- 9-Year-Old Boy Remembered By Teacher and Community After Being Swept Away By Flood Waters
- 16-Year-Old Heard a Family's Cries and Saved Them From a House Fire
- Family Grows From 4 to 8 Overnight After Welcoming Identical Quadruplet Daughters
- Little Girl With Autism Reminds Others of Snow White and Her Connection to Animals
- Candace Cameron Bure Shares Fantastic News That Former Co-star, Dave Coulier, is Cancer-Free
- Soldier is Reunited With the Dog She Served With While Deployed
- Her Grandfather Kept a Log of Every Memory He Had With Her Grandmother, and It's Precious
- This 30-Year-Old Feline Might Just Be the World's Oldest Cat
- Special Messages About Love From Kindergarten Class Displayed at Teacher's Wedding
- A Sneaky Brown Tree Snake Slithers Into An Oven in Australia, and Luckily Doesn't Get Cooked
- Florida Man Meets the Son Who Had Been Searching For Him For Almost 40 Years
- Four-Year-Old Sends Out a Message in a Bottle, Receives Reply Less Than Two Weeks Later
- Delivery Driver Saves Woman's Life After Double Checking When Something Didn't Seem Right
- Woman in Heels Stops Robbery at Convenience Store With Her Impressive Martial Arts Skills
- Man That Survived More Than 90 Days at Sea Thought About His Mother Every Single Day
- Quick Thinking 9-Year-Old Saves Choking Friend During Snack Time Emergency
- Video Store Owner Creates 'Christina's Corner' For a Long-Time Customer
- Texas Man Gets Married in the Hospital After Kidney Transplant
- A Bride to Be and Her Best Friend Have Plane to Themselves and Enjoy Every Minute of it
- Dogs Come to School to Help Comfort Young Students Affected by the Eaton Fire
- Toddler Braves the Dark to Save His Great-Grandma
- All Four of These Best Friends Now Live On the Same Street and It's Amazing
- Woman Finds the Most Precious Message Inside Her Thrift Store Purchase
- Mom is Hit By a Piece of Power Tool On Her Way to Walt Disney World
- Veteran Who Loved Burger King Honored With His Own Chair
- Toddler Using Old Phone Calls 911 For Donuts and Gets a Sweet Surprise
- Hospital Hosts Special Father-Daughter Dance for Young Girl Who Missed the One at Her School
Top Artists
Top Music Videos

Oak Ridge Boys 'Jesus Is Coming Soon' The Oak Ridge Boys

Danny Gokey Danny Gokey's Powerful 'Open Up The Gates' Lyric Video

Colton Dixon 'The Other Side' - Colton Dixon Song For Lost Loved Ones

Mac Powell Mac Powell Uplifting Message in 'Good News' Official Music Video

Oak Ridge Boys 'Because He Lives' Classic Performance From The Oak Ridge Boys
Blog
At GodTube, you’ll find daily inspirational videos to lift your spirits and encourage you in your walk with God. Popular videos include worship music from your favorite Christian artists, cute videos with adorable kids and animals, hilarious videos from Christian comedians, user-uploaded videos, and clean viral videos to brighten your day.