Emmanuel St. Cloud
Only 11 months after sustaining major damage from Hurricane Ian on September 28, 2022, Port Charlotte Church’s recovery was nearly complete. In celebration, a rededication service was held on August 26, 2023.
“Among the attendees were the dedicated professionals who played a pivotal role in the reconstruction process. Their presence highlighted the joined forces that it required to restore the church. The collaboration between local contractors, the local church, and the Conference made for a wonderful team throughout the disaster recovery process,” shared Ben Shurtliff, senior pastor.
Prayers were offered to consecrate not just the church, but also the school and community building on the campus. A professional photo of the congregation was taken to commemorate this special moment of the church’s history.
The January 2023 Southern Tidings article, “Port Charlotte Praises God in the Eye of the Hurricane,” told of the severe damage to the church caused by the hurricane. Members were portrayed worshiping outdoors 10 days later in the shadow of the church building, and thanking the Lord for His watching care over the congregation.
Restoration of the campus now comes at a considerable cost, totaling $3.25 million due to the extensive damage caused by the hurricane. God blessed in the timing and speed of mitigation efforts, as well as the reconstruction, and the church was made whole much faster than other structures in the area.
Florida | January 2024
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