March 14, 2019 began like any other day until 9:15am when Michelle Rushing, the Mt. Zion Preschool Center Director, and her staff were alerted to a tornado warning. Quickly the 40 preschool students and staff on-campus at Mt. Zion Baptist Church; West Paducah, KY. were moved from their classrooms into a safe-room.
Mrs. Rushing and Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Office Manager, Mrs. Emma Chapman barely arrived in the safe room after collecting all remaining staff through-out the building and felt the tornado begin its path of destruction both mentally and physically with the wind funnel pulling their hair backward. The main priority at this point was to keep the children safe and as calm as possible. While waiting the children were kept occupied with singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and did not seem to be bothered by the ongoing destruction until the lights went out. Eye witness accounts state that the tornado, later to be determined by weather authorities to be an EF-2 tornado, had hit Mt. Zion Baptist Church and they could hear the roaring wind and then silence.
When the storm had passed Michelle Rushing found the safe-room, along with the 40 preschool children in her care and her staff to be untouched by this force of nature. Upon exiting the safe-room the staff began to investigate the level of destruction that the tornado had left behind and realized that there had been no area of the church facility left untouched; except for the safe-room. God had spared each of their lives and brought them through this storm.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church along with the Mt. Zion Preschool Center Staff and parents continue to praise God for His hand of protection over every single child and adult on-campus during this event and will always “Remember the Miracle”.
Due in part to the financial contributions made by donors all over the United Stated; today our Preschool Center has been completely repaired and remodeled to provide a safe and comfortable space for all of our staff and daycare and preschool children (nursery – kindergarten). Now and into the future the staff will continue their efforts in education on the Mt. Zion campus for these children. One example of these efforts is being made during the stressful and worrisome time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our facility and preschool staff will provide an environment where school aged children who are virtually learning may receive assistance with their education in a safe and digitally equipped environment with guidance from our staff.
The replacement of the Mt. Zion chapel has not taken place at this time but the leadership and members of the church continue to pray and seek direction.
Mrs. Rushing and Mt. Zion Baptist Church’s Office Manager, Mrs. Emma Chapman barely arrived in the safe room after collecting all remaining staff through-out the building and felt the tornado begin its path of destruction both mentally and physically with the wind funnel pulling their hair backward. The main priority at this point was to keep the children safe and as calm as possible. While waiting the children were kept occupied with singing “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and did not seem to be bothered by the ongoing destruction until the lights went out. Eye witness accounts state that the tornado, later to be determined by weather authorities to be an EF-2 tornado, had hit Mt. Zion Baptist Church and they could hear the roaring wind and then silence.
When the storm had passed Michelle Rushing found the safe-room, along with the 40 preschool children in her care and her staff to be untouched by this force of nature. Upon exiting the safe-room the staff began to investigate the level of destruction that the tornado had left behind and realized that there had been no area of the church facility left untouched; except for the safe-room. God had spared each of their lives and brought them through this storm.
Mt. Zion Baptist Church along with the Mt. Zion Preschool Center Staff and parents continue to praise God for His hand of protection over every single child and adult on-campus during this event and will always “Remember the Miracle”.
Due in part to the financial contributions made by donors all over the United Stated; today our Preschool Center has been completely repaired and remodeled to provide a safe and comfortable space for all of our staff and daycare and preschool children (nursery – kindergarten). Now and into the future the staff will continue their efforts in education on the Mt. Zion campus for these children. One example of these efforts is being made during the stressful and worrisome time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our facility and preschool staff will provide an environment where school aged children who are virtually learning may receive assistance with their education in a safe and digitally equipped environment with guidance from our staff.
The replacement of the Mt. Zion chapel has not taken place at this time but the leadership and members of the church continue to pray and seek direction.