It started with the sound of hail hitting the roof.

Pastor David’s church outside of Amarillo had weathered countless storms before, but this one was different. The sky turned dark, the wind howled, and when it was all over, pieces of the old roof lay scattered across the parking lot. The next morning, he walked through the fellowship hall to assess the damage. Just as he was about to enter the sanctuary, he heard water dripping from the ceiling onto the worn carpet. Then, he did what any good steward would do, which was pick up the phone and call his church’s insurance company.

The adjuster came and the report was filed. But when the payout came back weeks later, the numbers didn’t make sense. That is when Pastor David found out the hard truth.

The church’s policy had actual cash value coverage and not replacement cost. That meant the insurer subtracted for depreciation and suddenly, the roof that cost $80,000 to replace only had $40,000 in coverage. This left David’s church with half the money and twice the stress.

Pastor David’s story became a key example in Week 2 of our podcast, Faith, Stewardship, and Insurance: Protecting Texas Churches, where we focused on how churches can prepare for and recover from unexpected losses.

In Texas, the storm will certainly come. But what determines how your church can handle the storm starts with preparation.

What We Learned This Week

Episodes 6 through 10 took a hard look at what happens when risk becomes reality and how faith, wisdom, and preparation work together to protect your ministry when it matters most.

Here’s what this week taught us.

1. Property Coverage Isn’t About the Building. It’s About the Mission

In Episode 6, we explored how churches often view property insurance as a necessary expense but it’s much more than that. It protects your church’s building so that your ministry is not interrupted. Your buildings are where lives are changed and where worship, teaching, and community happen. When disaster strikes, your church’s ability to serve depends on how quickly you can recover. That means that you need to understand the details of your property coverage. This includes exclusions, deductibles, and whether or not your church has replacement cost or actual cash value.

Key Takeaway: Your insurance isn’t just about walls and roofs. It’s about preserving your ability to do ministry when the unexpected happens.

2. Storms, Fires, and Floods: Different Disasters, Different Rules

In Episode 7, we broke down a common misconception: that all natural disasters are treated equally by your insurance company. They are not. Hail, tornadoes, hurricanes, and flooding are all categorized and covered differently in Texas policies. Some may carry separate deductibles or exclusions, especially for flood damage.

Key Takeaway: Know your risks by region and make sure your coverage fits the area of Texas where your church is located.

3. Liability Risks Don’t Take a Vacation

Week 2 also dove into the kinds of liability exposures that come with everyday ministry life. From mission trips and youth events to volunteers driving church vans, a church has risk in many areas of their operations.

In Episode 8, we talked about how liability coverage can travel with you depending on how your policy is written. Many churches discovered after the fact that off-site events, third-party property rentals, or volunteer drivers weren’t fully covered.

Key Takeaway: Ministry doesn’t stop at your church doors and neither should your insurance protection.

4. Leadership Protection Is Non-Negotiable

Episodes 9 and 10 tackled a harder truth: sometimes, the biggest risks come from within. Whether it’s a board decision, a personnel dispute, or a financial misunderstanding, churches today face complex challenges that can lead to lawsuits.

That’s where Directors & Officers (D&O) and Employment Practices Liability (EPLI) coverage become essential. They protect pastors, board members, and staff when leadership decisions are challenged in court.

Key Takeaway: Protecting your leaders is part of protecting your church. Stewardship includes safeguarding those who carry responsibility.

5. Preparation Brings Peace

If there’s one common thread running through Week 2, and it is that peace doesn’t come from avoiding risk. Peace comes from preparing for the unexpected.

Pastor David’s church eventually replaced their roof. But after their terrible experience, they decided to work with a church insurance agent at Insurance for Texans for their policy renewal. Through True Texas Church Insurance, they were able to obtain a policy that protected their church’s specific risks. This rebuilt their confidence. Now, when the storm clouds gather, they don’t panic anymore.

Key Takeaway: The storms will come, but faith and preparation can keep your ministry standing strong.

Listen and Learn

Catch up on Episodes 6–10 of Faith, Stewardship, and Insurance: Protecting Texas Churches.