02-03-2025
Jonesborough church destroyed in Helene getting closer to rebuilding
JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — A church in Jonesborough is working to rebuild after Hurricane Helene floodwaters devastated the inside of the building.
Enon Baptist Church partnered with the neighboring Trinity Baptist Church on Saturday for a night of Southern gospel to raise funds for Enon's reconstruction. So far, the church has collected over $850,000 in donations.
Enon Baptist Church Pastor Keith Malone said the idea of a benefit concert came from members of his former church, who had heard about the devastation and wanted to help.
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'Yeah, we have been very blessed, I had some old friends from our past church that reached out to me right after we heard they heard that the church had been flooded, and they had a gospel group their whole life with their parents and said that they wanted to do a benefit concert. And I said, 'Well, hallelujah, we'll do it when you wonder how quick you want,'' he said.
After the shock of the storm subsided, Malone said donations to his church began to pour in.
'And the donations started from the very beginning, right after the flood,' he said. 'And to this point, we have raised 354,000 as of this afternoon (at the concert), plus a $500,000 grant from Samaritan's Purse. So we are so blessed to have over $850,000 already. And we just turned all of the preliminary drawings back into our architect.'
Crystal River Boys, Celestial City and the Slagle family performed at the benefit concert.
'And so, we're so grateful to watch God use our other brothers and sisters in Christ to put our church back in our community,' Malone said.
Enon Baptist Church is still accepting donations through Venmo to @csEnonbaptist. Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 206, Jonesborough, Tennessee 37659.
Call Kevin Burkey at 423-426-1894 for more information.
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