Light in the Darkness
OUR TEAM OF TWO WOMEN AND FOUR MEN stood looking at the pile—4×4 posts, and 1×8 slats of lumber. One or two grabbed the posthole diggers and began dragging the pieces of wood across the yard to start the fence-building project we were assigned. Beth, the owner of the home, walked up to thank us for our help, and we listened to the story, oft-repeated during our days of work at the Guadalupe River disaster area. “My husband and I stood on the black-night edge of the flood, grateful to be alive, but terrified and confused about how to help in the nightmare that unfolded in front of our eyes. The peaceful river had become a surging torrent trapping hundred-year-old trees, homes and cars in its path. Those terrified screams of people, helpless to escape, will always echo in our minds.” We noticed that Beth wore a bracelet inscribed with John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” She explained, “Although many lives are gone, the light of their memory, the way they lived, shines on, and will never be extinguished in our hea rts.”
Heavy rainfall caused the Guadalupe River to rise rapidly, resulting in the catastrophic flooding of July 4, 2025. Campers, families and children were forced to flee in the darkness as water ripped through homes, camps and communities in the early morning. Communities in the Texas Hill Country were left grieving, rebuilding and searching for hope. Families were forever changed. Even after the floodwaters receded, the emotional and physical scars remained. Months later, many homeowners were still unable to return to their homes and were living in temporary housing while repairs continued. The need for help was still great, and the opportunity to serve was clear.
One such example was the mission outreach led by STCH Ministries in partnership with Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville, Texas. This outreach became a testimony of faith, friendship, compassion and the power of serving others in their time of greatest need.
It was not simply a volunteer trip; it was the continuation of a long-standing relationship between Pastor John Wheat, Trinity Baptist Church and STCH Ministries. That relationship began nearly 19 years ago when Pastor John Wheat was serving at a church in Kenedy, Texas. Pastor Wheat traveled to the Dominican Republic to personally evaluate the ministry work of our International Ministries. After seeing the work firsthand, meeting the children and families served and understanding the mission and vision of the ministry, he returned with a desire to involve his church in the work. When Pastor Wheat later moved to Trinity Baptist Church in Kerrville, the international involvement and support continued. Over the years, this partnership has grown into more than a ministry connection; it has become a friendship and a shared calling to serve children and families both internationally and locally. Pastor John reflected:
The value of the STCH Ministries team—someone just a hand-reach away if you need them. To know that, without expectation on our part, they are aware of your needs and your ministry. They found a way to express, through practical actions as a mission team, gratitude, and live out the friendship that has come from a long-term partnership.
The greatest immediate need reported was for counseling. In August and again in October, Darin Griffiths, Vice President of Counseling Ministries, brought a team of five counselors, each EMDR trained and prepared to work with trauma. On both of these trips, they offered a total of four nights of group meetings that were open to the public.
In March, Danny Quintanilla, International Ministries Director, was asked to organize and lead the STCH Ministries construction and rebuilding outreach. He commented, “As a leader, I am so thankful for the way our STCH Ministries staff worked together.” In addition to International Ministries, staff volunteers represented all aspects of STCH Ministries—Counseling Ministries, Community Ministries, Campus Ministries and administrative positions. Danny also credited Texans On Mission and the Texas Lions Camps for helping to provide the logistics needed to get this trip together. “Texans On Mission did a great job in getting some work projects and providing supplies for our small team, and the Texas Lions Club camp provided our lodging.” Nestled in the beautiful Hill Country along the Guadalupe River, the camp provided not only significant help logistically, but also a peaceful place to reflect, rest and prepare for each day of service.
The STCH Ministries team worked on multiple disaster-affected properties, including homes and camps that had been damaged or destroyed by the flood. Projects included building fences, cleaning properties, repairing structures and helping homeowners begin the long process of rebuilding their lives. For the STCH Ministries team, the outreach became more than physical labor. It became a ministry of encouragement, prayer and presence. Sometimes the most important work was not building or repairing, but simply listening, praying and reminding people that they had not been forgotten. On our last day, our team was able to help a professional musician, who would not let us leave until he had “given back” with a song and small handmade crosses he had carved out of flood-destroyed trees.
For many STCH Ministries employees, this outreach was a deeply meaningful experience. Team members worked side by side with coworkers they did not normally work with, building new friendships and strengthening relationships within the ministry. Evenings were often spent reflecting on the day, sharing stories and discussing the impact of the work. These moments became just as meaningful as the work projects themselves. One volunteer reflected, “I really appreciated visits in the late afternoon with other staff members. We developed a pattern of staying up until about 10:30 pm, sitting on the porch of our cabin just talking about the day and catching up on life stories. I cherish the times when I get to learn about other co-workers.”
The outreach had a profound impact not only on the people who were served, but also on the STCH Ministries employees who participated in the trip. Russell Jerez and Maria Magallanes from the Dominican Republic also joined the team. Russell commented, “There is no way to give back to Trinity Baptist Church what they have given to us. In comparison to the size of the disaster, what we could do seemed very insignificant.” Many returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, gratitude and compassion. They saw firsthand the pain and loss experienced by families who had lost homes, friends and loved ones. They also saw resilience, faith and determination as people rebuilt their lives piece by piece.
The mission outreach to Kerrville was more than a work trip. As STCH Ministries President/CEO Eron Green expressed, “We had a desire to work hand-in-hand with our staff, and to demonstrate the value we place on the churches who have been faithful partners by sharing their burden for the tragedies suffered.” He continued, “It demonstrated compassion for those who were hurting, gratitude for faithful church partners and a commitment to serving wherever there is need.”
The old hymn affirms, “The Light of the world is Jesus.” As a ministry and as individuals, STCH Ministries is called to reflect that Light for children and families who are grieving and hurting and often trapped in dark hopelessness.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” – John 1:5
