GALVESTON -
The First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, which was nearly destroyed by Hurricane Ike, will be re-opening for the first time this week just in time for Thanksgiving.
Crews are rushing to prepare the church's fellowship hall for Wednesday night in time for its first worship service since Hurricane Ike ravaged it 14 months ago.
The church was so severely damaged it will take a long time before it's completely repaired, but the pastor was adamant that at least part of it would reopen. He purposely chose Thanksgiving week for this special milestone because of its meaning.
"What's the first thing we want to do in this building, but to have a service where we can have a prayer to thank God for the fact that we survived the storm," said Pastor David Green.
When we first talked to Pastor Green, the church was in danger of closing for good because Ike's massive storm surge had wiped out its foundation.
Pastor Green and his members refused to give up on the building, spending millions on painstaking repair work.
Meanwhile, they borrowed another church to hold Sunday services, but like many other Galveston congregations, they saw a rapid decline in attendance.
"They didn't want to go to church until they can come back to their church home," said Green. "There are a good number of families who have left the island since the hurricane."
Pastor Greens' hope is that if he can rebuild his church, the people will return.
Built about 140 years ago, the historic church survived several storms, including the storm of 1900, during which it became a sanctuary, then later a place where relatives came to claim the hundreds of bodies of drowned storm victims.
Because of its rich history and long-running service to the Galveston community, Pastor Green hopes to restore the church to its original glory.
"When I teach children about church building, I tell them that the sanctuary is a big word for safe place," said Pastor Green. "My hope and my prayer is that this will be a safe place for generations after us."
The First Presbyterian Church of Galveston's first worship service since Ike will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The church is located at Church Street and 19th Avenue on Galveston Island.
It will be held in the fellowship hall since the sanctuary is still under construction.
Crews are rushing to prepare the church's fellowship hall for Wednesday night in time for its first worship service since Hurricane Ike ravaged it 14 months ago.
The church was so severely damaged it will take a long time before it's completely repaired, but the pastor was adamant that at least part of it would reopen. He purposely chose Thanksgiving week for this special milestone because of its meaning.
"What's the first thing we want to do in this building, but to have a service where we can have a prayer to thank God for the fact that we survived the storm," said Pastor David Green.
When we first talked to Pastor Green, the church was in danger of closing for good because Ike's massive storm surge had wiped out its foundation.
Pastor Green and his members refused to give up on the building, spending millions on painstaking repair work.
Meanwhile, they borrowed another church to hold Sunday services, but like many other Galveston congregations, they saw a rapid decline in attendance.
"They didn't want to go to church until they can come back to their church home," said Green. "There are a good number of families who have left the island since the hurricane."
Pastor Greens' hope is that if he can rebuild his church, the people will return.
Built about 140 years ago, the historic church survived several storms, including the storm of 1900, during which it became a sanctuary, then later a place where relatives came to claim the hundreds of bodies of drowned storm victims.
Because of its rich history and long-running service to the Galveston community, Pastor Green hopes to restore the church to its original glory.
"When I teach children about church building, I tell them that the sanctuary is a big word for safe place," said Pastor Green. "My hope and my prayer is that this will be a safe place for generations after us."
The First Presbyterian Church of Galveston's first worship service since Ike will start at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The church is located at Church Street and 19th Avenue on Galveston Island.
It will be held in the fellowship hall since the sanctuary is still under construction.
