Journey Fellowship

In the close-knit town of Llano, Texas, Journey Fellowship Church stands as a historic landmark, a late-1800s structure that once served as a bustling commerce hub and remains central to community life today.

One week before Thanksgiving 2024, disaster struck. A powerful storm ripped a large portion of the church roof off, scattering debris for nearly a city block.

“I got a call at home that the roof of the church had just blown off, so I jumped in my car,” said Journey Fellowship Church’s Pastor Justin Davis. “I saw a huge section of our roof in the parking lot. The center of the church was miraculously intact.”

Two local contractors were hired to assist with the church’s restoration, immediately arrived with work gloves and trash bags to help with the cleanup. The building’s HVAC units, which had been mounted on the damaged roof, were severely compromised. For a congregation heading into the Christmas season, the challenge was to repair the roof and restore comfort quickly, but after the holidays.

Redefining Everyday Comfort

Nick Brown, church member and Owner of Almighty Services HVACR & Electrical, was called in to assess the damage and design a solution.

“Amid the chaos and destruction, immediately, my mind is trying to put it back together. What’s the best way we can do this? Obviously, if there’s potential for the roof coming off, we don’t want to put those condensers back up there,” said Brown, a member of the Mitsubishi Electric Diamond Commercial Contractor® program.

He chose the Mitsubishi Electric all-climate SMART MULTI® heat pump system for its flexibility, quiet operation, and efficient performance. Low-profile condensers were installed on the ground in an out-of-the-way location, doubling as a child-safe playground zone and preserving a key pathway between buildings.

The all-electric heat pump system’s smaller footprint allowed for optimal placement, and its efficiency eliminated the need for a second air handler, removing redundant circuits and even an entire electrical service and meter. The system also integrated seamlessly with the church’s existing controls, streamlining the installation process.

“We have a full line of ducted products that can handle pretty much any space that you would need them to,” said Garrett Smith, Area Sales Manager, Austin/Central Texas, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US (METUS).

“When we look at the temperatures in Central Texas, we can have snow, and we can have 110º-plus days, said Smith, “Having one piece of equipment handle both of those scenarios extremely well while still saving a lot of energy is a no-brainer.”

Brown added, “Having such a dependable, reliable product in our corner has made us more trustworthy. When your product doesn’t break down like everybody else’s, and when you have readily available support from Mitsubishi Electric for your product, it really speaks volumes.”

Built for More than Comfort

For John Hoot, Owner of Hoot Builders, the decision to go with the SMART MULTI solution was informed by firsthand experience in the manufacturer’s contractor training program eight months earlier.

“The warranty is amazing, and that speaks to a company that believes in its product,” said Hoot. “The training Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US provides gives contractors in rural areas like ours the skills to fully service the equipment.”

The Journey Fellowship Church project also highlighted the power of local relationships, according to Davis, who grew up in coastal hurricane territory. He recalls that storms brought out the best in neighbors because they would clean each other’s yards and homes after a storm. This storm was similar because it brought the Llano community, including local contractors, together.

“I’d absolutely recommend Mitsubishi Electric to anyone shopping for a new HVAC system,” Davis said. “If you’re a nonprofit or in an older building around here, come check it out. The comfort and efficiency gains are worth seeing for yourself.”

Quiet Power, Proven Results

Since going live, the new HVAC system has significantly improved the church’s comfort and energy efficiency.

“It’s almost mind-blowingly more efficient and so quiet,” Brown said. As the church’s sound technician, he noted the dramatic improvement, especially since congregants can now have conversations, record music, and hold prayer meetings without the “old dinosaur system loudly blasting air at full speed.”

Davis added, “Cooling an older building is always a challenge, but this system is doing its job very well. We’ve already seen big wins in our kilowatt usage that could help other folks in town with buildings similar to ours.”

Comfort Rebuilt, Community Renewed

With Mitsubishi Electric’s SMART MULTI heat pump system delivering quiet, energy-efficient comfort, the church now offers a peaceful, climate-controlled space for worship and connection.

Project Team

Project Site: Journey Fellowship Church, Llano, Texas

Owner/Operator: Journey Fellowship Church

Contractor: Almighty Services HVACR & Electrical

Builder: Hoot Builders

Mitsubishi Electric Representative: Garrett Smith, Area Sales Manager, Austin/Central Texas

Equipment

Mitsubishi Electric