Hurricane Katrina left their home and church under water and them thousands of miles away from life as they knew it, but James and Monica Brown say their faith in God can never be moved.

Monica thrived in her role as a praise and worship director at Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans, La., where James, a record producer, also served as minister of music.

Life was good for them and their three children, Michael, 14; Michaela , 13, and 22-month-old James "Deuce" Brown II. Everything changed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina's awesome fury which quickly left homes, businesses, churches, and every other structure in the city in an abyss of water.

The couple's home in east New Orleans was flooded along with their megachurch, Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, which included a 4,000 seat auditorium.

The New Orleans church was one Greater St. Stephen's three church locations, which serve more than 20,000 members and are led by world-renowned author and gospel singer Bishop Paul S. Morton. Morton's New Orleans home was also flooded in the Katrina's aftermath.

"Who ever heard of an entire city being gone in America? I don't think people can really fathom waking up and now having a house and a job. The jobs don't exist anymore. People have been going to churches and banks that don't exist anymore. People have been scattered all over the country. I don't think people realize what has really happened," said James, who decided to evacuate with his family just before the killer hurricane struck.

His family relocated to South Carolina, where he stayed with his parents, the Rev. Timothy and Helen Brown of Orangeburg, until his family could get a place of their own.

Rev. Brown, who is employed with the Montgomery Insurance Company, said company owner Georgia Montgomery has graciously donated the use of her rental property on Treadwell Street to the thankful family.

Monica said the couple had the option to stay in Louisiana, but decided to heed the mandatory evacuation order instead. She is glad they did.

"I am go grateful to God. He moved on us to move out. There were a lot of people full of faith that stayed in New Orleans, but when they said to leave, we left. I'm glad that I heard the voice of God and left. My faith has been increased for that. It makes me more sensitive to what he's saying," she said. "I just don't move. I listen to what he's saying. I'm just grateful that we're here and able to be with our family. God doesn't make a mistake."

The family plans to make Orangeburg their permanent home.

"When and if they rebuild the city, I would not spend one dime there just to have that all possibly taken away again. The devastation is go great. I wouldn't want to invest my children's future in that place, where it could be disrupted like this," James said. "You couldn't imagine that type of destruction. Life is literally over, and everybody has to start from scratch."

"I loved New Orleans. That was my home, but there's nothing to go back to," Monica said. When we left, we had a job. Now it's different. I wouldn't even risk the health of my family in going back. It looks like a Third World country."

She said her brother, Edward, has also relocated to South Carolina from New Orleans. Edward and his family are now staying in a home which was donated to them by a South Carolina State University professor.

The couple said they were not used to having to use food stamps and stand in line for assistance from The American Red Cross, but they're grateful to God that their situation was not worse. The couple is trying to get back on track and is well on their way with the launch of their own music production business.

Hurricane Rita soon followed Katrina and traced its own path through the Texas and Louisiana areas. The couple see it as a sign of God that deserves attention.

"Two record-breaking hurricanes hit the same area. You can't even imagine that. Something is going on. We're experiencing stuff that we normally don't experience. I think this is only the beginning. The disasters we're facing and have faced in just a few years have been amazing," said James, noting that the disastrous events in his life have not shaken in faith in God.

"My faith hasn't changed. It's caused me to have more sensitivity to the things I really can't see. I really believe the things going on are what the Bible speaks about in Revelation that prepare us for the return of the Lord. I'm not shocked by what I see, I believe these things must be. It has encouraged my faith because I believe these things are supposed to happen," he said.

Monica said was in a state of "shock and awe" to learn that Hurricane Rita was on its way near the already-flooded area they had just left.

"I was talking with a lady in the drug store. She said, 'I just believe God is trying to say something,' and I believe that. My faith has been increased tremendously. My husband does not have a job, but the Lord has opened so many doors for us. We haven't gone hungry, and the Lord provided shelter for us," she said.

Rev. Brown said he has been enlightened by all of the support that his son's family has received from the local community, particularly churches including Olive Grove, Oak Grove and Brookland Baptist churches and Parlerville, Good Hope and Emanuel AME churches.

"You never know what kind of reaction you're going to get from people, but I was definitely enlightened by that," he said. His son said he is equally pleased.

"They've been phenomenal in throwing their arms around us. I know that the news has really focused on Houston, but I could tell anybody nationally something, it would be that the people in South Carolina have been absolutely fabulous. They give and even when you tell they don't have to, they still give," said James, noting that his family has received clothes, food and money from generous churches and organizations including the Red Cross.

"I haven't had a bad day in Orangeburg. God just never lets me fall. He gives me the opportunity to focus on other things," said James, who has not forgotten about other families who are still struggling to survive in Katrina's aftermath.

He recalled how families lost babies and other small children in the storm's wake, making him even more thankful for the support of his.

"I think that this situation gives us the opportunity to make the right choices about what really makes us content about our lives. Don't take for granted the support of your family. There's nothing greater than having your family. Don't let it take something like this to cause you to appreciate it," he said.

Monica said while people may yearn to go back to their old lives in New Orleans, sometimes you just have to move to on.

"Everything happens for a reason. Pray and get enough strength to move on, and the Lord will direct your path in whatever it is. People want to look back, but have the strength to move on," said Monica, who, along with her husband, plans to start a fellowship gathering of those who just want to enjoy the spirit of God.

"We're not trying to start a church," James aid. "We're going to be starting a fellowship twice a month, where people can come and just enjoy fellowship and music."

Until then, his wife said their focus will be on rebuilding a sense of normalcy for their family.

"Our kids are doing well. They understand the storm displaced us, but they're happy. God is in control," she said.

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