A Heart for Texas: Bringing Hope and Healing to the Hill Country
From the Heart of Paula White Ministries
When disaster strikes, it doesn’t knock. It barges in unannounced—stealing homes, peace, and sometimes, even hope. That’s exactly what happened in the early morning hours of July 4th, when flash floods surged through the Texas Hill Country, catching families off guard and changing lives in an instant.
Entire communities in Kerr County; Ingram, Hunt, Kerrville and surrounding areas, woke up not to fireworks and parades, but to rising water and panic. At Blue Park RV Park in Ingram, families were jolted out of their sleep as floodwaters rushed beneath them, taking down the river everything they owned. That’s when Lorena and Juan Guillen became heroes. With no thought for themselves, the couple went trailer to trailer, banging on doors, shouting through the storm, doing everything they could to wake their neighbors.
“The water was rising so fast,” Lorena told us, still shaken. “We just wanted to get everybody out alive.” Because of their selfless act, the loss of life would have been much higher.
She and her husband didn’t pause. They didn’t plan. They acted out of love. And that’s what Paula White Ministries is all about—being love in action when it matters most.
Just days after the flood, PWM Pastor of Global Outreach, Todd Lamphere, stood with Lorena at the RV park. Debris was everywhere, homes were destroyed, but something beautiful was happening. PWM was there—not just with resources, but with arms ready to hug, ears ready to listen, and hearts ready to help rebuild.
Through the Compassion Collective—a powerful partnership between Paula White Ministries, CityServe, World Vision, MedicCorp and others, PWM was able to jump in right away. People needed the stables; food, clothing, hygiene supplies, medical care… but more than that, they needed to know they weren’t alone.
One woman, Georgia “Coonie” Wells, had lost absolutely everything. Her home? Gone. Her belongings? Swept away. Her heart? Broken. She had no money, no local family to turn to, and no place to sleep. That’s when God connected her story with ours.
When Pastor Todd offered her a hotel room provided by PWM supporters, tears streamed down her face. She didn’t ask for much—just a safe place to rest. “I can’t begin to thank Pastor Paula,” she said, her voice trembling. “I am so humbled that she would think of me.”
But that’s the thing—we do think of people like Georgia. Constantly. Because every single person matters. Every story matters. Every hurt deserves healing.
In a world that can feel cold and distant, especially in the wake of tragedy, our mission is simple: to show up, stay present, and pour out love. Not for a photo op. Not for applause. But because that’s what Jesus did. That’s what the Church is called to do.
As Pastor Paula says, “Love isn’t just a word. It’s shelter. It’s warm meals. It’s holding someone’s hand when they’ve lost everything.”
We know the road ahead in Kerr County will be long. Families are still sorting through the mud, piecing together what they can. Many don’t even know where to begin. But with your help, we’re staying. We’re listening. We’re rebuilding.
Together, as the Compassion Collective, we are delivering truckloads of supplies, spiritual care, trauma counseling and most of all, hope.
If you’d like to be part of this outpouring of compassion, Click here to find out more. Your prayers, your giving, your heart—they matter more than you know.
