Young member also were struck hard by the loss.

"This morning my daughter asked someone: 'Why did God let it storm? Why did we lose our church?'" said Kathy Harlan, speaking about her 4-year-old daughter Savannah.

"We lost some things that we can't replace, to which memories are tied," Ramsey said. "But nobody was hurt, and most of the stuff we can replace - and we will."

The minister was still not sure Monday afternoon where this Sunday's worship service will be held. Community members had made several offers.

Within a couple weeks, the congregation hopes to meet in the fellowship hall.

"The church is really growing, and we were not able to fit a lot of people in the sactuary a lot of the time," Pinnock said. "So, on the other side of the coin, this is the change to rebuild a bigger place.

"If you look at it that way," she said, "it really was an answer to our prayers." she said.