Amid the utter devastation brought to a small Virginia community hit by an enormous tornado, one teen saw that the best response to tragedy is to cry out to God in worship.
In an incredible Facebook Live video, 17-year-old Tre Tyree was filmed standing on the bare foundation of a family’s destroyed home, clutching a guitar and leading a small assembled crowd in sung praise. His song of choice? “Praise You in This Storm.”
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The desolate space on which Tyree was standing was once home to the Fink family. As Faithwire previously reported, when the storm hit April 15, Gary Fink, a former Marine and Lynchburg Police officer, managed to usher his five kids and his cancer-striken wife, Leecy, to safety before it was too late. Tragically, everything they owned was lost in the storm.
Images posted on the GoFundMe page show the devastating extent of the damage inflicted by the massive tornado on the family’s home. But after Amy Loughhead Moore, a family friend, set up the fundraising page online, support has been pouring in.
“This family who does so much for so many people needs our help,” Moore writes on the page’s description.
The Finks have been utterly overwhelmed by the financial and spiritual support they have received from people across the nation.
“Our family is grateful beyond words for the outpouring of kindness, love and support shown to us,” Leecy told Faithwire. “While no one ever anticipates a disaster like we experienced, the goodness of God’s people has been so encouraging and kept us going. God protected my family, my community and will see us through as we rebuild.”
There is something so powerful about having hope and faith in an almighty God, even when everything around you comes crumbling down. If we imagine things falling apart in our lives, we often think of our personal lives — relationship breakdown, a job loss, or a health setback — but very few of us will experience the literal crashing down of the walls that surround us. But that is exactly what happened to the Finks, and they are still standing strong, full of faith.
“I’ll praise you in this storm,” Tyree belts out in the video. “And I will lift my hands. For you are who you are. No matter where I am. Every tear I’ve cried. You hold in your hand. You never left my side. And though my heart is torn. I will praise you in this storm.”
https://www.facebook.com/leecyfink/videos/10216443729031517/
The Casting Crowns worship hit continues:
“As the thunder rolls, I barely hear You whisper through the rain: ‘I’m with you.’ And as Your mercy falls, I raise my hands and praise the God who gives and takes away.”
Leecy Fink has been keeping her friends and family updated with the family’s progress through regular Facebook posts, and the family has been receiving huge numbers of supportive comments on social media, as well as generous donations to their GoFundMe page.
“The Fink family are a powerful force to glorify our Lord no matter what the circumstance,” one person commented on Facebook.
“Thanking the Lord for His protection over your family. You all are in our continued prayers,” another added on the GoFundMe page, which as raised over $67,000. “Leecy,once again I will be keeping you and your family in prayer. What a great and loving God we love and serve!”
(H/T: CBN News)