ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - On Sunday, one Arlington church is counting its blessings.

St. Barnabas United Methodist Church was hit hard by a tornado in spring. But the doors are finally open again and all the improvements are receiving high praise.

“The church just looks fantastic,” said long-time member Kay Jackson. “Everything is bright and new.”

Parishioners are thankful to be back in their church buildings after Mother Nature forced them out five months ago.

“We’re just excited to be together as a family and worshipping together,” said Jackson.

It was a frightening scene on April 3, when the church was struck my strong storms and a tornado. The buildings were severely damaged and the congregation was displaced.

Days after the April storm–the congregation took the church lawn for an Easter Service.

It was an early sign that members were not going to accept defeat as it faced a difficult situation. And that perseverance never faded.

Now the church is celebrating its re-birth. As the church has been completely renovated and repaired.

This is the first time the congregation is able to use the entire facility– including the family life center and pre-school.

It has been a trying five months, but members say the loss taught them a lesson about their faith.

“The most important thing is what we learned as a congregation: resilience, flexibility and the outpouring of support that we received, we’re looking forward to giving that, back to the community,” said Jackson.

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