PENROSE, N.C. — As many homes, businesses and churches lost power and suffered massive destruction when Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, one church’s lights remained on and its members were quickly able to jump into serving the community.
When Josh Shelton, youth and family minister at Little River Baptist Church in Hendersonville, N.C., arrived to work at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, the fire department was there with a couple who lived half a mile from the church. The couple had to be retrieved from their home due to excessive flooding and needed a place to shelter.
Having just started in the role the week before, if Shelton had not been at the church no one would’ve been there to open the church for use…