Southern Indiana church reopens 3 years after 2012 tornadoes

HENRYVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A southern Indiana church has reopened nearly three years after it was leveled by a deadly tornado outbreak.

Parishioners gathered Sunday at Mount Moriah Church for the church's first services in its new building, which is across the street from the snow-covered ruins in rural Henryville, about 20 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.

Sunday's services came exactly three years after the Baptist congregation gathered for the last time in its old church days before it was destroyed March 2, 2012, by a tornado.

Pastor Terry Lanoue said red tape and bad weather made for a long road to rebuilding the church. For a time, the congregation even held services in a tent, but Lanoue said he's "really thankful" the new church is open for business.

"It's been a long haul, and this community really learned to serve, and to show up. That is what has really been a blessing," he told WDRB-TV (http://bit.ly/1Ls3XSR ).

The new church building contains a storm shelter. It's believed to be the last major rebuild following the tornadoes that hit Henryville, Marysville and other area communities, killing 14 people. One of those tornadoes packed 175 mph winds and was nearly a half-mile wide.

Parishioners Carla Adams and Marie Butts said the rebuilding effort has been an adventure.

"We all grew closer," Butts said. "And it's like you realize the things that are important, and the things that are not. Material things are not important."

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Information from: WDRB-TV, http://www.fox41.com