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Winchester congregation holds Sunday service after storm destroys church

On Sunday, the congregation of Freedom Life Church, along with other members of the community, came together at a different location for an impactful church service.

WINCHESTER, Indiana — The Winchester community is coming together after Thursday's tornado devastated their close-knit town. A church that was destroyed held a service Sunday morning. Despite everything they've gone through, the people in Winchester said they've never been more thankful and hopeful. 

A pile of rubble is all that's left of Freedom Life Church.  

"I was getting texts, 'The church is gone. The church is gone,'" Freedom Life Church Lead Pastor Matthew Holloway said.

Five people were inside as the EF3 tornado ripped through the church March 14.

"We were in the dark, literally and figuratively," Holloway said.

Luckily, they learned their fellow parishioners were OK.

Credit: WTHR
The sign for Freedom Life Church in Winchester sits damaged after an EF3 tornado destroyed the church on March 14, 2024.

Holloway led church service at a different location Sunday morning. 

"It's our building, it has memory, it has meaning, but it's not the church. It's not the community," Holloway said. "The church isn't gone. The building's gone, and that's why I think this service today is so meaningful for us is because we have the opportunity to say Freedom Life Church is alive and well."

So is the town of Winchester. 

"We weren't impacted by the storm, but it's our goal to help people that were," Cayla O'Shea said.

O'Shea is one of the many volunteers helping at Winchester Community High School. 

"We've just been setting up, taking donations, helping people get back on their feet as much as we can," O'Shea said.

Credit: WTHR
Freedom Life Church Pastor Matthew Holloway leads worship service at a different location after the church was destroyed in a March 14 EF3 tornado.

"Anything and everything that we're desperate for right now here, stocking hats, lot of hooded sweatshirts that I had, people need them. They have nothing," John and Sherry Housel said.

Thirty-eight people were hurt. Many more homes and businesses damaged or destroyed.

"We're, like I say, keeping our fingers crossed that the people that were severely injured recover, rebuild, and that's about all we can do right now is just wade through it," John said.

The Housels are among the lucky ones. 

"A block and a half, it hit behind us. There's nothing left behind us. We were just fortunate enough not to feel the actual disaster at the time," John said.

Like so many, they feel called to help. 

"That's what a small town is about. We are not just friends, we are family, and we will pull this together, and we will help anyone and anybody that needs anything," Sherry said.

Credit: WTHR
The congregation of Freedom Life Church worships at a different location after their church was destroyed in a March 14 EF3 tornado in Winchester.

People were very emotional but said the tornado left this town even stronger than before. 

"The community's coming together to take care of each other, and that's the blessing," O'Shea said.

Volunteers are still hoping for sheets and household cleaning items. 

The donation center at Winchester Community High School is expected to be open through the week from 7 to 9 a.m.

Freedom Life Church plans to rebuild on the same site.

Residents of Delaware and Randolph counties are asked to call 866-211-9966 to report severe storm damage from Thursday, March 14. Cell tower damage in the area caused previous 211 calls to be rerouted incorrectly.

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