KINGSTON, Jamaica — On the afternoon of July 3, as Hurricane Beryl wrought destruction on their roofless church house in St Elizabeth, Reverend Tommy Lee and his God-fearing family found peace in the face of danger.

“There was a peace even though the storm was raging,” Lee told Observer Online.

The clergyman was responding to questions on a viral video capturing his family singing a heartfelt rendition of the gospel song “Goodness of God” as the storm raged overhead and floodwaters filled their home.

Reverend Tommy Lee is the pastor of Beacon Pentecostal Church of God Trinity in the Beacon community in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. Along with his wife and two daughters, he resides in the church house which was severely damaged along with the church during the passing of Hurricane Beryl.

The storm’s eyewall brushed the south coast of Jamaica leaving a trail of destruction across St Elizabeth and other southern parishes. The Lee family is among thousands of residents now having to pick up the pieces.

“Concerning the church, the entire roof of the church is gone. Many of the appliances, the music system, they were damaged just the same and concerning the house, the roof went off, only a back room section of the roof didn’t go from the house. Some zincs were left on it so we end up put back some zincs there to store our things in it for the meantime. So it was entirely damaged in that sense and all the furniture mash up and everything was destroyed,” Reverend Lee told Observer Online.

Despite the devastation, Reverend Lee and his wife, church Minister Shely-Ann Lee remain steadfast in their faith and commitment to their community.

Beacon Pentecostal Church of God Trinity has been the home to many residents of the Beacon community for more than two decades. And while the community is still without light three weeks after the storm, it is not without hope.

“Even though the roof is not on, we’re still having church and people are still coming,” Reverend Lee said.

“It’s important because even at this point in time, a lot of persons have suffered loss, a great deal of loss…so (it’s important) to get them out of that depressing state and this is the one place that we are able to gather as a family where we can talk over what has happened, sing, pray, praise together and encourage each other through the word to help uplift somebody faith even further,” he continued.

Reflecting on his family’s viral moment, the man of faith said they found solace in the song amidst the hurricane. He noted, however, that it was his daughters who started singing while they hid under a table as the storm raged.

“They were the ones who started singing the song…So I took out my phone and said I’m going to catch them up at the verse and that was where I came in with them and began to sing with them and then we just continue singing, singing, singing and then I went into that session of worship there,” Reverend Lee explained.

Reverend Tommy Lee, his wife church Minister Shely-Ann Lee and their two daughters 10-year-old Tiandra Lee and eight-year-old daughter Taija Lee. (Photo contributed)

“It was the spirit of God who just overwhelm me and we just continue singing and praising and worshipping because at that point in time, there was a peace even though the storm was raging. There was a peace. The peace of God was upon us in that house,” he said.

The pastor said he had no intention of the video going viral. For him, the video was to serve as an instrument of reflection for his family to look back on the “goodness of God”. It was a friend with whom he shared the video that made the video go viral, he said.

But he is humbled by the response.

“The fact that the video has touched lives and helped to transform lives and help people to take another outlook in life whenever they are going through a challenging time — I am good,” Reverend Lee said.

And the pastor is not afraid of building back. Noting that this is the second time that the church and the church house have been damaged during a hurricane, Reverend Lee said he has more sustainable plans for the future.

“When my former pastor was here…in Hurricane Ivan the church roof went off and a lot of zinc from the church house went just the same. My plan now is just to get the church roof decked…but what we’ll have to do now, the two structures weren’t built to deck so we’re going to have to do some adjustments now, put in some columns and so forth, some steel columns,” he explained.

“What I’m looking at for the future is, because of this whole ordeal, I want the church house and the church to be a shelter. Whenever there is a storm, I want people to know that they can come somewhere that is safe, that even when the storm is raging on the outside, they can lie down and get a good sleep and don’t have to worry about what is going to happen.

“So that is the aim to make sure that people are safe if there is going to be another storm again. I don’t care who they are in the community, where they are, who they come from, where they come from, I want to make sure I have somewhere in the church and church house to host people,” Reverend Lee said.

The clergyman is appealing for financial assistance to help with the repair of both structures. Those who are interested in helping can make donations via their GoFundMe campaign here.