ATHENS, Ala. – An Athens church is celebrating the opening of a new building two years after tornadoes destroyed its former sanctuary.
WAFF-TV reports the Bethel Church of Christ planned a special service Saturday evening to mark the second anniversary of the April 27, 2011, tornadoes.
Bethel was one of three churches destroyed as the powerful storm crossed Limestone County. Pastor Jimmy Clark says fundraising for the new church took a lot of time and fundraising and his congregation’s 300 members had to worship at other churches until construction was finished.
The new Bethel Church of Christ has an underground storm shelter that can hold 500 people. Clark says it’s already been used as recent storms passed through Athens.