Church Tent Collapse Kills 1, Injures 22 During 20th Anniversary Celebration

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A weekend of celebration at a Virginia church turned tragic on Friday when powerful winds caused a massive tent to collapse, killing one person and injuring more than 20 others.

The tragedy unfolded as EastLake Community Church in Moneta, Va., was celebrating the third night of a four-day event marking its 20th anniversary – and moments before pastor Troy Keaton was set to dismiss the outdoor gathering as a storm approached.

“Just as I had walked to the stage to release people to their cars, a burst of wind picked up the tent,” Keaton wrote on Facebook over the weekend. “There were several people transported to local hospitals and we are currently focused on caring and praying for them. We do not have details on their condition.

“Sadly, one of our dear brothers suffered a fatal injury. Our hearts are broken for his precious family.”

Emergency responders told WSET that 22 individuals suffered injuries.

“In a matter of five seconds, the tent was gone,” Keaton told local media.

The four-day event included singer Charles Billingsley on the first night, with pastor H.B. Charles Jr. scheduled to preach the night of the storm. The celebration was set to conclude with fireworks and a concert by Selah on Sunday. That final event, though, was canceled.

The victim was identified as Bob Stouffer, a church founder.

“Bob Stouffer was intricately involved in almost every major decision over the past 20 years,” Keaton said. “A godly man of faith who is now in the presence of Jesus. We are praying for his wife, Nancy, and their entire family.”

Despite the tragedy, the church came together on Sunday morning to worship, as planned.

“It's a service, really, of hope and healing,” Keaton told church members in a video posted on social media. “We are going to come together. We need to be together. The church family [on Friday] night endured an incredibly difficult experience.”

Church members, he said, came together at the hospital to pray for one another.

“It was just a remarkable witness to see you guys work so hard,” he said. “So we need to be together again, and we need to begin to heal and to seek the Lord, and look to the One from whom all our help comes.”

Photo Credit: ©Facebook / EastLake Community Church

Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel. 

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