BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

“And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.” —Nehemiah 2:18

INEZ — Pastor Maurice Mills could only watch helplessly as the Tug River surged past its banks and destroyed his church in Inez this February.

“This is backwater from the Tug River,” the heartbroken pastor reported outside the church on Feb. 17, sharing a photo of the flooded structure. “Please, if you will, and know the power of prayer, please remember us.”

Calf Creek United Baptist Church of the Old Zion Association sits along Tug River Road, where Mills has served as pastor for more than 23 years. During that time, he has witnessed the river flood the structure three times.

“In 2009, it was 17 inches,” he recalled. “In 2021, it was 27 inches. This time, 64 and a half inches. We’ve lost everything downstairs three times—everything—and this is the third time.”

The church was established in 1954.

“It was armed off Kermit United Baptist Church,” Mills explained. “Members of the Kermit Church were willing to come over into this area and form a church. … It was taken into the Zion Association and has been there ever since.”

The original church stood at the corner of the lot—a small white building with wooden clapboard siding and a modest steeple crowned by a simple cross. A photo of that building still hangs in the current sanctuary.

“It flooded one time up to the roof,” Mills said of the little white church. “That’s been years ago—one of the members thought it was back in the 1950s. So they moved it up to where it is now.”

At that time, the church wasn’t a two-story structure.

“It was set up on a block foundation a little bit—now this was all before my time,” said Mills. “But after it flooded again, they raised it up and built a kitchen and stuff under it. You used to have to come out the front doors and go around the steps to get into the kitchen.”

In 2002, the church expanded to include a bricked front wing with bathrooms, an office, a Sunday school room, two storage rooms, and a stairwell with three flights of stairs.

All of that is ruined now. When the river finally receded last month, Mills faced the destruction and mud.

“The church is gutted downstairs,” he said. “We’re down to studs and insulation. We’re not going to put anything back.”

But prayers were answered when news of the church’s plight reached Lloyd and Jodi Harmon, a Waverly, Ohio, couple whose family once attended Calf Creek United Baptist. The Harmons donated 5.71 acres of land—just three-quarters of a mile from the current location—for the construction of a new, 6,000-square-foot church.

“After we got this property donated to us, and then some pretty substantial funds came along that we were not expecting, we’re in the process of getting that drawn up for a new church,” Mills said. “We’ll be working on the construction just as soon as the architect gets everything approved. He’s doing the plans, doing all the permits, doing everything through Frankfort.”

He hopes construction can begin by May or June.

“I don’t know exactly how long it will take to get everything through the state, but I’m hoping it won’t take a long time.”

While the church did carry flood insurance during all three disasters, Mills said it was never enough to cover the full damage. He’s currently pursuing additional funding, including an application through FEMA—but that effort was discouraging.

“Before I got to my truck, I got a denial letter,” he said.

For now, around 50 members continue gathering for worship on the first floor of the flooded building.

“Our sanctuary is upstairs and we can still access it, even though everything downstairs is torn out,” said Mills. “We’re still having church on Thursday nights and Sunday.”

What will happen to the old church remains uncertain. Mills is in favor of FEMA’s buyout program.

“I don’t know if churches fit in that. Whenever you talk to FEMA about a church, they’re like, ‘Oh, we don’t know how to handle a church.’ They want to classify it as a business, but it’s not a business and it’s not residential. They don’t know how to classify it. We would like for it to be bought out because it’s going to flood again.”

The church has set up a flood relief fund at givelify.com: givelify.com/donate/calf-creek-united-baptist-church-inez-ky-2j7wy5MTUyNzcyNw

“We have a seat for you,” Mills said. On Saturday night, the pastor was still ministering with his familiar warmth and conviction.

“Can I invite you to the house of God tomorrow? The church is in need of young families eager to grow in Jesus, hungry to learn about Jesus, willing to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. Some will say, ‘I don’t need the church.’ You will say different the day you die. If you don’t have a home church, come to Calf Creek United Baptist Church of Old Zion Association tomorrow. Sunday school for all ages is at 10 a.m., and worship service is at 11 a.m.”

By Sunday evening, Mills shared a hopeful update:

“A wonderful service today.”