PORTLAND, Mich. (WZZM) -- The four churches and their respective congregations celebrated together Sunday under one roof and as one community at Portland High School.
"God thank you for bringing us through the storm," said Rev. Keith Treman, lead pastor at Portland's United Methodist Church.
An EF-1 tornado ripped through West Michigan Monday afternoon without warning. At least a dozen businesses, 70 homes and four churches were severely damaged if not destroyed.
Epic Community Church, First Baptist Church, First Congregational Church and the United Methodist Church will hold a joint service at the local high school for the next couple of weeks as the community assesses damages.
"It's a new building, it's a new place but it's a great time and a great opportunity to bring the community together," said Nick Babcock, a parishioner of Epic Community Church. "That's what I think is an important aspect of it: It's not just a building, but really the church is people and it's about relationships and it's about building those relationships."
Other congregations whose buildings weren't affected by the twister, dedicated their Sunday services to the rebuilding and strength of the greater community.
