One Year After Tornado Rips Apart Tulsa Church, Members Rejoicing

Emily Baucum, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- A Tulsa church is no stranger to storms. It's been one year since a tornado ripped apart the building at Aldersgate United Methodist Church.

Members rose from the storm, rebuilt and now, they're rejoicing. A tune of triumph -remembering a day of destruction.

On May 13, 2010, a tornado ripped through a Tulsa neighborhood, ripping roofs off several homes. It was later that morning the congregation learned their beloved church was also damaged.

"What I think most people don't understand is you get a lot of attention when it first happens, but it takes months," said Pastor Marcia Shoemaker.

The carpets and roof were replaced in nearly the whole building, because the storm tossed a full-sized tree into the lobby.

"It had lifted the roof as the winds tunneled through the building. It had lifted the roof so the ceiling was damaged. Electrical," Shoemaker said.

Church members started to rebuild, but by mid-summer their spirit was put to the test as vandals hit the church several times, smashing windows and breaking office equipment--even throwing food around the kitchen.

"We had to walk through bare floors and sticky tar to get into the sanctuary," Shoemaker said. "They pretty much destroyed the office and everything in there. It was just messy and - it was just awful."

Even as members opened the door to heartbreak, their sanctuary remained untouched and church services continued.

With a new roof now over their heads, the house of worship is looking to the future knowing how much they've accomplished in the past year together.

"What I've seen in the last few days is that the church is the people. They have come together in a way that's unbelievable," Shoemaker said.

The church did save a memento from the storm, making a cross from pieces of the rafters that fell to the ground. The wood's wrapped with cord symbolizing how the congregation bound together to rebuild.