The day after Chapman was devastated by an EF-3 tornado on June 11, 2008, a town hall meeting was held in city park to inform residents what was going on and give them an opportunity to address concerns.
Destruction was evident all around, but one scene was both poignant and inspiring. Across the street stood a cross that had been inside the Chapman United Methodist Church.
“Every time I had the chance to speak to the citizens about the tornado and recovery efforts I would always point over to the cross that was still standing in what was left of the church,” Chapman attorney Doug Thompson recalled. “I’d say ‘Look at that! The walls are knocked down, everything around is down, but what do you see standing there?’
Read more: Abilene Reflector Chronicle