Published on August 3, 2024, 12:32 am

Image source: Fox News

In the face of significant destruction after Hurricane Beryl wreaked havoc on three out of four campuses of his church that consequentially cost around $20 million in damages, Pastor Keion Henderson remains unwavering in faith. As the Founder and CEO of The Lighthouse Church & Ministries based in Houston, Texas, he is firm in his belief that this devastation is part and parcel of God’s larger plan. This grand design, as per his conviction, entails the rebirth of the damaged church facilities into structures twice as big as before.

Delivering this optimistic announcement from Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church where he will be hosting upcoming services, Pastor Henderson labeled the hurricane-induced harm as “catastrophic”. Amidst these difficult circumstances though, he maintains that this disaster didn’t occur randomly but was orchestrated by God for him to build an even larger establishment with ample room to accommodate thousands yearning to hear God’s Word through him.

Henderson expressed his challenges candidly saying “If I could do this alone it would be done already,” highlighting both his reliance on community support and urgency for action. He believed that prior to this incident about 600-700 individuals were turned away weekly due to their sanctuary reaching maximum capacity. His renewed vision hinges on rallying 2,100 people all across the country and even overseas like California, New York, Florida, Africa or even U.K., to raise a monumental sum of $4.4 million with each person investing $2,100 within just 21 days. A campaign aptly termed as ‘Out of the Harbor’ has consequently been announced.

Despite some believing insurance will satisfactorily cover heavy losses inflicted by Hurricane Beryl, Pastor Henderson calls for additional help since receiving funds based on “depreciated” value won’t adequately suffice considering God’s expansive vision for his church.

This monumental objective doesn’t come without its fair share of emotional distress though; Hurricane Beryl’s aftermath damaged more than just buildings. Its ripple effects disrupted countless lives, including the 300 young ones associated with the church-run daycare and school, alongside their staff members.

Pastor Henderson revealed periods of intense depression due to the unforeseen upheaval but he reiterates his commitment to faith, even in distressing times. His relentless spirit continues to lead him towards actualizing God’s vision with assistance from community members who never attended his church in person. He asked individuals that found comfort or guidance in his words ever to step forward for aid in rebuilding a bigger space for gathering.

In light of the damage incurred by The Lighthouse Church & Ministries, they have found temporary refuge at Lakewood Church during August. While confirming this setup, Donald Iloff, Lakewood’s lead spokesperson and Osteen’s brother-in-law added that Joel respects Keion and suggested that Pastor Henderson covers only “costs that incur” rather than pay any rental fee conventionally charged.

Expressing gratitude towards Lakewood Church for their charitable contribution during this challenging phase is spokesman Brian Smith saying that “Lighthouse is grateful to the Lakewood staff for providing us with the use of their building and sanctuary”. He appreciated this show of camaraderie between two establishments as evident resilience for Houston city unifying under trying circumstances.