Faith Rising After the Flood
by Pastor Stephen Finkel
A Visit to First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville
Last week, I had the privilege of visiting our faith partners at First Presbyterian Church in Kerrville—a congregation that has become a lifeline for their community in the wake of the devastating Central Texas floods.
Eighty-two days after the floodwaters rose, I sat in the pastor’s office, jaw dropped, listening to story after story of heartbreak—and hope. The room was calm, but just outside its walls, the work of rebuilding lives continues in full force.
From the first day of the floods, First Pres Kerrville has faithfully served their community—first as a reunification site, then as a host site for those displaced, and now as a partner with the Hill Country Foundation, distributing resources through case workers and direct aid. The church is one of three recovery centers in the city, and its main office buzzes with activity throughout the day. Community members who lost everything come through, one person or family at a time, to sit with a case worker and talk through their losses. The church ensures that every basic need is met—with compassion, dignity, and grace.
Their pastor, Rev. Jasiel Garcia, carries the weight of a community in recovery with both humility and resolve. Alongside leaders like Rev. Susan Shaw-Meadow, Associate Pastor for Faith Formation, and their partners at the Hill Country Foundation, they’ve built a coordinated, trusted response effort.
Kerr County has not yet entered full reconstruction. Flood zones are still being redrawn, and some who began rebuilding may have to start over. The economic landscape is complicated; in a place where old ranch homes sit beside modest RV parks, it’s not always clear who has the means to recover and who doesn’t. Many are “perceived wealthy” but cash-strapped, and help is needed across the board.
There’s also a quieter challenge: flood fatigue. After months of crisis, people are weary. “Well-meaning people from all over the country are sending things—from teddy bears to cards,” one leader shared. “They’re nice, but these gifts keep reminding the community of what they went through.” The longing for normalcy is real, even as the hard work of rebuilding has barely begun.
Yet amid the exhaustion, First Pres Kerrville continues to lead with grace. They are partnering with Mo-Ranch to hold a trauma-informed retreat for first responders and their families in Spring 2026—a project that will offer healing space for those who carried the heaviest burdens during the disaster.
As they approach the reconstruction phase, we want to ensure that our Presbytery is ready to come alongside them—with volunteer support, mission giving, and prayer.
We can pray for strength and wisdom for their leaders.
We can prepare to respond when the call for rebuilding help comes.
And we can remember that even as floodwaters recede, the call to compassion remains.
First Presbyterian Kerrville reminds us that the Church is not defined by its walls, but by its willingness to stand in the muddy aftermath—bearing witness to resurrection one day at a time.
