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Hospital's Chapel Remains Untouched by Devastating March 1st Tornado

Genie Collins (3/21/07)

Although there's no true explanation for it, the fact that the chapel at Sumter Regional Hospital remains intact is true.

Sumter Area Ministerial Association (SAMA) President Jim Purks said at Monday's daily briefing it was true that the chapel was still in harness, and the Americus Times-Recorder was able to tour the hospital Tuesday to view the tiny chapel that stands strong in the midst of what seemed to be ruthless devastation.

“It was one of the few places we could store things after the tornado,” said Marcus Johnson, director of Marketing & Public Relations at the hospital.

Leading up to the chapel, one can see the blown out
laboratory to the left and the devastated gift shop to the right. There are carts of what appears to be folders sitting on shelves wrapped in cellophane in the front hallway.

Striding past the welcome desk where volunteers once greeted with a kind smile visitors to the hospital, the Outpatient Surgery Unit to the right is blown out.

A little further down, the courtyard windows lay shattered on the ground, and the tiny courtyard they into which they offered a glimpse stands ruined and covered with debris.
Then, there is the chapel with the beautiful stained glass untouched with not even a scratch. Upon peering inside the chapel, one can see the only thing bothered are the pews, some of which only have specs of dust on them. The Bible lays on the small sanctuary as it did before the tornado.
Now, Johnson did say that some of the portraits of doctors were destroyed, but others were taken to a safe place.
“Most of what people find in a hospital chapel is a place of quiet and a place of solace,” said Wendy Joyner, the hospital's chaplain.

“Most of the families in hospital chapels are dealing with some kind of emergency, a serious illness, or the death of a loved one,” Joyner said. “Their initial reaction is that they look for some meaning and some connection with God.”
“When I looked at the damage, it made me realize how much of life is beyond our control,” Joyner said. “It's a mystery as to why there is so much devastation in one place, and there was none in other places.”

“I've tried to focus on God's presence in the midst of the devastation,” Joyner said. “And, the fact that the chapel was spared is a gift to us ... as a reminder of God's presence ... God's peace and love is present for us, as we try to rebuild.”

Joyner said as bad as the devastation was, it was a “miracle there was no more loss of life and injuries.”
Johnson added, “We want to thank the community for its support, e-mails, phone calls ... It means a lot that even though the hospital is damaged, ... that people still come to Urgent Care ... and still support the hospital.”
He said there are updates on the hospital's website, www.sumterregional.org, and that as more information is made available, it will be posted on the website.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207