Spring Lake church needs extensive repair following floods

In Fayetteville, Strickland Bridge Road remained closed Sunday and a Spring Hope church congregation returned to their sanctuary for the first time after the floods.

“It’s just a great, loving, small church that makes you feel welcome,” said church member Misty Wade.

A group gathers every week as the New Life Worship Church but this Sunday, some things were just not the same. The group now has a temporary church at Anderson Creek Christian Church after floods damage forced church members out of the building.

“We are the church. It’s not the building,” said Pastor Austin Swinson.

The sanctuary the group used for the past two years is now more of a storage area. Other parts of the building were still being dried out and will need extensive repair.

“We know what we’ve got to do now. We know what damage has been done so now we have to move forward,” Swinson said

Although the floods caused a lot of damage, the church group reminded each other that their faith, determination, gratitude and faith are stronger than ever.

“We’re going to be blessed and we’re moving forward,” Wade said.

The group had just finished paying off the church last year and are hoping to return to the building next month.