In Forward in Christ, we report the news but aren't always able to follow up. "Where are they now?" is our way of giving you the rest of the story.

In October 2004 we told you about how Hurricane Charley affected Port Charlotte, Fla., and the members of Christ the King.

Here's a recap

When Hurricane Charley hit west central Florida in August 2004, it caused an estimated $7 billion in insured damage in the Port Charlotte/Punta Gorda area, including damage to Christ the King church. WELS members around the country sent more than $70,000 to WELS Committee on Relief for disaster relief. A national team traveled there to help church and community members clean up. The congregation also used the opportunity to reach out to those struggling after the storm.

Where are they now?

Christ the King opened a new community center in May and is planning many activities to connect with more people in the community.

But the congregation went through many hardships to get to that point.

After an initial reconstruction boom after the hurricane, the area around Port Charlotte suffered a severe economic downturn, causing many in the community to move. Christ the King lost a third of its members in two years. In 2008 it was forced to close its preschool because the congregation couldn't financially support it. Its pastor retired in January 2009, and members and prospects drifted away during the six-month vacancy.

New seminary graduate Mark Parsons arrived in Port Charlotte in June 2009 to minister to this unique community of young families, snowbirds, and retirees. Parsons began reaching out into the community as well as preparing his core group of 30 members through Bible study to welcome new prospects.

But with jobs scarce and the community still suffering economically, the congregation had serious financial issues and were months behind on some of its bills. "We realized we couldn't do this on our own," says Parsons.

After talking to his district president, Parsons and the congregation began applying for grants to do outreach work. They also asked the Board for Home Missions for home mission status and support so that the congregation could pay off its bills and maintain its everyday operations.

In December the Board for Home Missions did provide the congregation some funding for three years. Christ the King also received two additional grants—one from the Antioch Foundation to remodel its preschool into a community center and the other from WELS Kingdom Workers to fund outreach programs and staff.