KIRBYVILLE, Texas — A Kirbyville church is still rebuilding more than three months after the April 2024 floods.
Their meeting house flooded with several feet of water after nearly 13 inches of rain fell in a single night. The church was completely gutted and it's a total loss.
The church had insurance, but it wasn't enough. Now church members have started a GoFundMe to cover the costs of starting over.
The flood waters rose five feet inside the Kirbyville Full Gospel Ministries church. It completely flooded the foundation and damaged the church.
"This is a flooding area, so yeah we been through some things yes, but this right here just took the cake," said Rashanda Gosey .
Since 2013 Gosey has been a member of Kirbyville Full Gospel Ministries. On the morning of April 10 she was shocked to see the church was only accessible by boat. After the water receded she was able to take a look inside.
"Just coming in and seeing and all that mold, and just how high the water was," said church deacon George Cauley.
Cauley could barely open the door when he first got to the church after the flooding took place.
"The doors just fell in, you know because of the rain water was so high in it," said Cauley.
When he saw what it looked like inside, it was a mess.
"It was just terrible in here, I mean a big ole chess freezer full of meat, you know it had to be strong. That water was, it's floating around in the sanctuary," Cauley said.
The back of the church was lower to the ground where the pulpit and choir stand once was. It was covered in six feet of water.
The church was gutted and now all that remains is a moldy wooden frame.
"We had insurance, but like I said everybody knows it's not nearly enough," Cauley told 12News.
Contractors estimate rebuilding the church will cost over $240,000.
"So we're going to pick the church up four feet off the ground, and start from scratch," said Cauley.
When rebuilding the congregation hopes to make the facility more wheelchair accessible for their elderly members.
This church is centered around family.
"People come and go, children they still come back during the holidays just to see the old church," said Cauley. "It's a family church. We got maybe 25-30 members but it's loving and it's warm."
For Gosey, that is the reason why rebuilding this church is so important for future generations.
"We just can't take nothing for granted, you know this is God's house and that's what makes it so special," Gosey said.
In the meantime, the church has started a GoFundMe asking for donations to help.
"If I could help, and if you could help I would appreciate your help. I mean as far as me encouraging you, I mean just find it in your heart," Cauley said.
If you would like to donate to the church's GoFundMe, you can do so here.