Tornado-stricken Baptist church begins the rebuilding process

The Rev. Forrest Moore, pastor of West Highland Baptist Church, speaks during a service held Sunday afternoon in the building of Cornerstone Full Gospel Baptist Church. West Highlands building was destroyed in the April 27, 2011, tornado, and the church has recently broken ground for a new facility on the grounds of the old one.

TUSCALOOSA | The West Highland Baptist Church was virtually wiped off the map in a matter of seconds.

The church was reduced to a pile of rubble by the April 27, 2011, tornado.

But rather than mourn, West Highlands members reacted to the devastation with thanksgiving and celebration.

The feelings that day were feelings of thanksgiving to God that He had warned us not to be there, said the Rev. Forrest Moore, pastor of West Highland. People were not as concerned about the building itself as they were about people being killed or injured.

We were supposed to have been there at that time of the storm, because it was on a Wednesday during a time wed be gathering together for prayer meeting and Bible study, he said. The Lord warned me to cancel it that day, so I called people telling them it would be canceled. Weve been thankful to God from point zero when we first found out that none of our folks were injured. We take a minute every Sunday to thank God for that.

On April 27, 2012, the anniversary of the churchs destruction, West Highlands congregants had another reason to celebrate.

Moore and several of the churchs leaders broke ground on a new church building at 628 29th St., the same location as the destroyed church.

It was awesome, Moore said of the groundbreaking ceremony. We had a tremendous turnout of both our members and others who were aware of it. It was exciting for our membership.

We had others who offered their sentiments, he said. They congratulated us. It definitely lifted the spirits of our members. Anything positive along those lines is always exciting for our congregation.

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Tornado-stricken Baptist church begins the rebuilding process