Helene Relief Phase 2: Rebuild Lives, Restore Hope

Seven months ago, Hurricane Helene interrupted everything.

Thirty-six young people—freshly launched missionaries—had just stepped into their calling when the storm changed their course. What began as a hopeful journey with the World Race was suddenly rerouted. Their assignment was replaced with an emergency evacuation. Their dreams, it seemed, had been derailed before they even had the chance to begin.

At the time, it felt like loss. Like God had pulled the plug on a story He had just started to write.

But last month, the squad went back after months of living on mission.

Back to the place where the storm had hit hardest. Back to the ground where those 36 lives had been spared. They stood in a circle, surrounded by memory and meaning. With them were Jason and Elodie—God’s hands and feet that night—who had answered a perfectly timed phone call that led to a life-saving evacuation. And standing quietly nearby was the squad mentor, the one who had walked them through those dark days with prayer and wisdom.

They asked the Holy Spirit to reclaim the story.

And He did.

That week made one thing clear: what had felt like a setback was actually a sending. The obedience of those 36 young people—their “yes” in the midst of fear—became the spark for something bigger than any of us imagined. Since that moment, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of families across Western North Carolina have been impacted. What began with confusion and tears became a movement of compassion and healing.

One of the young women, Isabella, put it this way:
"The thing I saw God’s hand most in was the impact it had on the community—how God used our testimony and others’ to bring people together. And it would have never happened without Helene."

Her honesty was striking.
“There was irrational fear,” she admitted. “It caused PTSD. I didn’t want to go back to the same place, the same vans. But God made it clear: it was His will for us to return—and He was going to use it for something good. It took eight months of conversation with the Lord, but I surrendered.”

That act of surrender—that return—broke something in the spiritual realm. A stronghold gave way. In its place: peace. Hope. Restoration.

What once felt like chaos was, in fact, divine redirection.

This is the story God is writing. One of purpose born in disruption. One where every surrendered “yes” matters more than we can imagine.

And now, we invite you into it.

Come to Western North Carolina.

See the ground for yourself.

The story is still being written.

Join us in the restoration.