The Crossroads Church (Norwalk, IA) IMPACT team found unity and purpose helping rebuild Pastor Stephan Knowles’ farm, devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Read this powerful story of faith and resilience—a reminder that broken things are not beyond repair—and watch his testimony.
Today felt sacred in a quiet, grounding kind of way. For the first time all week, we were finally together working side by side in the same place. That alone felt significant. After days of being split across different projects, there was something deeply comforting about moving as one group again, sharing the same dirt under our boots and the same purpose in our hands. Unity has a way of reminding you that you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
Our work today brought us to the farm and petting zoo of a local pastor, Stephan Knowles, a place that hasn’t been operational since Hurricane Dorian. Hurricane Dorian left this land in ruins, but it did not wash away faith, hope, or the resilience that continues to rise from it. Despite the hurricane destroying the farm, God saved the lives of Stephan Knowles and his family. We spent the morning clearing brush and debris, slowly helping to uncover what once was and what still can be. The land told a story of waiting, of patience, of hope resting just beneath the surface.
The pastor’s home on the property is also in the process of being rebuilt, which somehow made the work feel even more symbolic. Restoration isn’t just about structures or land. It’s about people, faith, and the steady belief that broken things are not beyond repair.
This man has an incredible testimony, one that truly deserves to be heard in his own words. Please take the time to watch the video and hear his story directly, because no matter how hard we try, we could never do it justice ourselves.
Later in the day, we were given a few hours of free time to write and reflect as we prepared to share our impact stories with one another. Those moments of stillness felt just as important as the physical labor. Writing, praying, and reflecting all became a form of listening. Listening to what the week has stirred in us. Listening to how God has been moving quietly through every moment.
After yesterday’s rain, the warmth of the sun felt like a blessing we were all deeply aware of. We sat in it, worked in it, and breathed it in with gratitude. Sometimes grace looks like answered prayers, and sometimes it simply looks like blue skies after a storm.
Today reminded us that impact doesn’t always come with loud recognition. Sometimes it’s found in togetherness, in sweat and silence, in sunlight and stories, in showing up and trusting that even the smallest acts of service are seen.
We ended the day tired, reflective, and grateful for the work, for each other, and for a God who is always refining us.
— Meeka, Kim, and Kelcey
