A candlelight vigil will be held Saturday evening, July 12, at Freedom Church in Liberty to honor the victims of the devastating Texas Hill Country flooding and to pray for those still missing.
The vigil, scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., will take place inside the Freedom Church sanctuary, which holds up to 280 people, with additional space available in the foyers for overflow attendance. Organizers say the event is open to the public and all are welcome to come in solidarity and support.
Freedom Church Pastor Jason Cowart said the vigil will begin with worship songs and transition into a time of prayer, with invitations extended to local pastors to participate and lead prayer.
“We are praying for a miracle that people are still rescued alive,” Cowart said. “But the main thing is we will be praying for God’s peace that surpasses all understanding, the grace that only God gives us.”
The Liberty community is mourning the tragic loss of John and Julia Burgess and their two young sons, who were camping along the Guadalupe River when flash flooding swept through the RV park in the early hours of July 4. Julia Burgess was a beloved schoolteacher at Liberty Elementary School, and her death has deeply impacted colleagues and young students.
“This is a time for us to come together — not just to mourn, but to pray for the safety of the search teams and for the families still waiting for news,” Cowart said.
Freedom Church will provide candles for participants, with the goal of easing the burden on attendees.
“The less people have to worry about, the better,” Cowart said.
Freedom Church is located at 422 US 90 in Liberty, just east of the Trinity River.