It was supposed to be a week of fun and laughter.
It was supposed to be a week of worship and God’s Word.
Instead, it became a nightmare.
750 children gathered at a Christian youth camp in central Texas along the Guadalupe River.
For many it was their first time going to a summer camp.
Then it rained – 12 inches of rain fell in just a few hours overnight.
Sudden flash floods swept down the river, washing away cabins, RVs and multiple camps…sweeping away lives…leaving behind grief that can’t be described with words.
It’s one of the deadliest floods in the U.S. in the past 100 years.
A bridge that was 25 feet above the river was washed away in 38 minutes after the flooding started.
As of Tuesday afternoon, July 8th, 173 people were still missing according to Texas Governor Greg Abbott.[i]
Rescue teams are sifting through tons of debris in search of bodies.
The current death toll of 111will probably more than double as additional bodies are recovered.
No one has been found alive in Kerr County for several days.
As people rushed in to help…the political left rushed in to exploit.
Here are 8 things you should know about the Christian youth camp tragedy:
- The Guadalupe River in Texas has a history of flash flooding.
There’s a Hill Country region along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas that’s called “Flash Flood Alley.”
The terrain is steep, the soil is hard and shallow… and the area is affected by humid Gulf air.
In 1978, Tropical Storm Amelia stalled over the headwaters of the Guadalupe and Medina rivers.
Torrential rains caused flash flooding…
38 people died.[2]
In 1987, thunderstorms dumped 15 inches of rain west of Hunt, Texas.
While a Baptist church from North Texas was attempting to evacuate their youth camp, a bus and a van were swept away while crossing what they thought was a low-water spot in the river.
Ten teenagers drowned and 33 were injured.[3]
Two other notable flash floods occurred on the Guadalupe River in 1998 and 2002:
- October 1998 – 22 inches of rain caused the Guadalupe to crest at 40 feet. Homes, infrastructure and crops damaged. Casualties unknown.[4]
- July 2002 – Kerrville recorded 19 inches of rain. As much as 40-50 inches were recorded between Kerrville, Center Point and Comfort. The Guadalupe crested at 42 feet. Homes and infrastructure were washed away.[5]
Between 1959 and 2019, at least 1,069 people have died across the state of Texas in flash floods.[6]
- What actually happened this time.
Before dawn on the 4th of July, devastating rains caused the Guadalupe River to flood.
In the darkness, terrified children and counselors were forced to run, swim, float on whatever they could—and crawl—to survive.
Some didn’t make it.
The flooding devastated Mystic Camp, a Christian youth camp known for sharing the Gospel with hundreds of children every summer.
But it wasn’t just this camp.
Other camps, RV parks, rental cabins, and homes were hit hard.
The National Weather Service confirmed that over 12 inches of rain fell in just hours, triggering a statewide emergency.²
3. Churches and heroes stepped up to help.
While some politicized the pain, others rolled up their sleeves.
Churches in Uvalde, San Antonio, and nearby towns opened their doors to victims.
Local pastors mobilized volunteers to bring food, clothes, and shelter.
Christians showed what Christ’s love looks like in a crisis.
4. A national response of prayer and action.
President Trump’s White House Faith-Based Initiative issued a statement asking Americans to pray.³
The statement quoted Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit.”
And Americans across the country responded.
Thousands donated. Hundreds volunteered. Millions prayed.
President Trump is tentatively scheduled to travel to Texas on July 11th to visit the victims and show support – provided his presence doesn’t hamper ongoing rescue efforts.[7]
5. The left pounced—turning grief into politics
While Christians and Americans wept and prayed, the radical left and media elites weaponized the moment.
Congressman Joaquin Castro blamed Trump, saying: “This was the result of the Trump administration’s failure to fill vacancies at the National Weather Service.”
ABC’s George Stephanopoulos echoed it, stating: “We’re also learning there were significant staffing shortfalls at National Weather Service offices in the region.”⁴
CNN anchors insisted it was “climate change.”
Grant Stern of Occupy Democrats tweeted: “It took only nine days for Trump’s cuts to [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] to kill dozens of children in Texas with Tropical Storm Barry.”
While children lay dead…
While parents cried out in pain…
The left played politics. And none of the above is true.
NOTE: Staffing cuts to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had no effect on flood warnings or loss of life.
Contrary to the accusations of some Democrats, the National Weather Service offices in New Braunfels – serving Austin and San Antonio – were fully staffed when the heavy rain began.
The National Weather Service (NWS) did its job in providing timely and precise forecasts and warnings prior to the flood.
Here is the sequence of alerts the NWS issued for the Hill Country of the Guadalupe River that is prone to flooding:
- Initial notices of heavy rainfall
- Escalating warnings of heavy rainfall
- Excessive rainfall warnings
- A flood watch warning
- A flash flood alert
These warnings were issued three hours before the flooding began.[8]
The flash flood began in predawn hours when campers were asleep.
It’s amazing how many campers were able to scramble to safety before the flash flood came – and how many were able to grab onto tree branches along the edges of the flood zone – where they were later rescued.
- God’s word always goes out in times of tragedy.
Stories are beginning to surface about how the campers and staff responded to the flash flood.
And stories are beginning to surface about the rescue efforts.
Rescuers have been hampered by debris – sometimes having to abandon rafts and hack through or walk over debris on foot.
Watch this video of Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6375349173112
Also watch this interview of the mother of two boys who were rescued by other boys during the flood.
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6375341201112
7. Where was God in all of this?
It’s a question we all ask—whether it’s a flood, a fire, a hurricane, a tornado, or a tragedy closer to home.
Why would God allow such suffering?
The answer isn’t easy. But it is clear.
This broken world is not the world God designed.
It’s a fallen world – a world in which mankind’s free will has led to rebellion against God.
It’s a world consumed in spiritual warfare – and wracked by the consequences of sin.
God didn’t want the flood or those children to die.
But here’s the truth: He was with every child in that moment.
- You have two choices after tragedy.When tragedy hits—whether personal or national—we face two paths:
- Path #1: Bitterness. Anger. Doubt.
- Path #2: Trust. Hope. Faith in what we can’t yet see.
There’s nothing wrong with questioning God.
But how we respond defines us.
We must weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15)…
And remind ourselves: “We grieve—but not like those who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)
So today, we cry. We grieve. We pray.
This is a time to believe in God’s unchanging love: “God is love.”
(1 John 4:8)
One day, we’ll understand what we can’t explain now: “Now I know in part; then I shall know fully…” (1 Corinthians 13:12)
“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24)
And in the meantime…“My hope is in You.” (Psalm 39:7)
Our hope is now. And our hope is in the future.
A new day is coming.
A day with no more death. No more pain. No more tears.
“The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.” (Isaiah 60:20)
“He will wipe every tear… death shall be no more… neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore.” (Revelation 21:4)
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)
One day, those parents will see their children again.
That’s the promise of the Gospel.
Take Action Now:
- Please pray for the families who have lost children and relatives to this terrible tragedy.
- Pray that God will comfort them and encourage them as only He can.
- Consider donating to flood relief efforts through Samaritan’s Purse. Click here.
What do you think? Email me at [email protected].
[1][i] https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/08/us/texas-floods?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20250708&instance_id=158089&nl=breaking-news®i_id=282625782&segment_id=201477&user_id=afd6754ab1cfc4903a3dc1914b4aabe0
[2] Bob Garcia-Buckalew, https://www.kvue.com/article/news/history/flash-floods-texas-hill-country-guadalupe-river-history/269-aa40ee53-fab5-4ad6-8943-e5b089282399
[3] https://www.weather.gov/ewx/wxevent-19870717
[4] https://www.kvue.com/article/news/history/flash-floods-texas-hill-country-guadalupe-river-history/269-aa40ee53-fab5-4ad6-8943-e5b089282399
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Tyler Pager, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/07/07/us/texas-floods
[8] Julia Mueller, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5388114-leavitt-trump-texas-floods/