Responding to Hurricane Helene: April's Story
April Kummerle lived in a single home tucked against the mountainside, with a beautiful garden and a peaceful creek flowing behind it. But when Helene struck, that same creek turned violent. The waters rose quickly, reaching her windowsills, leaving April and her loved ones trapped with nowhere to go. Fast moving floodwaters destroyed her garden, damaged surrounding structures, and left her home unlivable.
When The Church Steps In
Hearing April’s story, The Gathering in Asheville, NC stepped in to bring hope. Partnering with Fearless Works and churches across the nation, they began the hard work of restoring what had been lost. Volunteers arrived from different states, each person bringing skills, labor, and prayer, showing April that she wasn’t alone. Together, the team completely rebuilt April’s home. The entire plumbing system was replaced by the subfloor and flooring was rebuilt, and a brand-new kitchen with modern appliances was installed. We restored the drywall and insulation, rebuild the deck, and complete critical foundation repairs. Fearless Works led the project, completing the core rebuild in just 15 days, with final finishes wrapped up soon after.
What began as devastation became transformation.
April had always known about God, but through this experience, she came to truly know Him personally. As The Gathering ministered to her throughout the rebuild, she experienced the love of Christ in a tangible way. April now has a new relationship with God, attends The Gathering, and lives with a renewed perspective. The impact was clear in April’s own words: “Not only they helped us to be whole again, but they gave us a whole new house” April now sees her life through the lens of God’s abundant love her home was restored, but more importantly, her heart was renewed.
April’s story shows the heart of the Fearless Rebuild Program.
Homes are rebuilt, hope is restored, and lives are transformed by God’s love. But many families are still waiting.
Through the National Church Disaster Response Plan, your gift can bring that same hope to others. When you give, you help restore homes and hearts so more families can know Christ and live in His abundance.