Cedar Hill Church Leaders Seek Solace After Heavy Ice Collapses Sanctuary Roof
A Cedar Hill congregation has been left searching for answers and a temporary home after a severe winter storm caused the roof of their sanctuary to collapse under the weight of accumulated ice and snow. Kingdom Culture Worship Centre, located in a building that formerly housed Hope Lutheran Church, sustained catastrophic damage earlier this week, with the collapse destroying the altar, musical instruments, LED screens, and sound equipment.
The damage was discovered on Tuesday when church leaders returned to the property following the worst of the storm. Because in-person services had been canceled on Sunday due to treacherous road conditions, the building was empty at the time of the collapse, preventing potential injuries. “It knocked the breath out of me,” said Tyshawn Miles, a church leader who first entered the building to find the ceiling buckled and debris strewn across the sanctuary floor.
Senior leaders Sherman and Dr. Jaquet Dumas, who relocated the ministry from California to Texas less than two years ago, expressed shock at the devastation. The couple had prepared the building the previous Friday by leaving faucets dripping and the heat running, but the structural failure occurred due to the sheer load of the frozen precipitation on the shallow metal roof. “No way in the world did we think the weight of the ice would bring the roof down,” Sherman Dumas stated.
The incident presents significant logistical and financial challenges for the young congregation, which had only recently established its roots in the North Texas community after purchasing the property in 2024. The church now faces a displacement period estimated at five months or longer while insurance adjusters assess the ruin and repairs are organized. Beyond the physical rebuilding, the leadership must navigate the emotional toll on the 300-member congregation and the immediate need for a worship space.
The building itself dates back to the 1960s, and while the modern equipment inside was crushed, the original stained-glass window from the previous Lutheran owners survived the impact intact. This survival has become a symbol of resilience for the community. “To see it still intact just as that reminder… I think our message is that there’s still hope,” said Jaquet Dumas.
Despite the destruction, the church has found immediate support from the local faith community. The Inspiring Body of Christ Church has offered its facility to host Kingdom Culture’s upcoming Sunday service, allowing the congregation to gather while they formulate a long-term recovery plan.
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