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Two years after tornado, Muscatine church ready to return home

Two years after a tornado forced church members out of their building, a Muscatine congregation is ready to return home.
Calvary Church

Two years after a tornado forced church members out of their building, a Muscatine congregation is ready to return home.

“It’s pretty cool. It’s been a lot of work that’s been put into this building and trying to get a space where we can all gather again,” said Ty Thomas, lead pastor at Calvary Church.

On June 24, 2013, an EF-1 tornado hit Muscatine, Iowa. The storm killed one man and caused severe damage to several businesses along Highway 61, including Calvary Church.

At the church, winds ripped off the roof, blew out interior walls, and sent lights flying out of the ceiling into the worship space.

“It just looked like somebody peeled back the roof like a sardine can,” recalled Thomas. “It looked like a war zone.”

The building was uninhabitable, but members immediately got to work. A garage sale raised money for the tornado victim’s family, while also clearing out the church’s storage area for a temporary worship space.

“The tornado really forced us as a congregation to evaluate what church is really supposed to be about. When the building is stripped away, when the comfort is stripped away, when the consistency is stripped away, what’s it really about?” said Thomas. “We were forced to evaluate what’s really important, and it’s kind of galvanized our community.”

Over the past two years, the original worship space has been restored. Calvary was able to add a new Spanish worship auditorium, too, and a coffee shop for post-service gatherings.

Insurance money allowed the church to advance its 10-year plan, as well, by finishing the east end of building, moving its offices, and connecting the entire space with walkways and windows.

“It’s been a real blessing in disguise,” said Thomas.

Volunteers are now putting the finishing touches on the church, and members are anxiously awaiting the move into their original space.

A grand re-opening celebration is planned for September 12th and 13th.

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