About three months ago, a portion of the Valdese city sewage system backed up into the sanctuary and fellowship hall of the Valdese First Christian Church. Inches of waste soaked into the carpet and furnishings, ruining almost everything and temporarily displacing the church's activities. From the floor and into the baseboard the damage was extensive. Even the ceiling paint began to peel.
Thanks to the actions of the city administration, as well as a couple who volunteered the use of their rather large den, the congregation made its way through the period of dislocation and now has returned to their restored facility than is even better than ever.
In keeping with the maxim, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade," the folks (as well as some gracious volunteers in the community) saw the disaster as an opportunity to do more than merely clean things up. Instead, the unfortunate circumstance was converted (to use a religious expression) into a chance to restore the sanctuary's beauty.
On March 29, Pastor Denny Camp led the folks of Valdese Christian Church family in a specially designed service where individual members, from youngest to the oldest, literally brought the furnishings back into the worship area. Little 4-year-old Nicholas struggled into its place the chair Camp uses when he gives the children's sermon; Bertha and Margaret, the congregation's oldest members, bore the communion set. By the time for the benediction, the sanctuary was fully prepared.
The congregation went one step beyond simply restoring the devastated church facility. Some long desired to include a large, stained-glass window to enhance worship. That also was accomplished. Now, as folks traveling east to west on U.S. 70 and pass Childrens Park, if they happen to look to the top of the hill, the beauty of that window can be seen. It stands as a constant reminder that any set of circumstances no matter how dire can be turned to good.
Johnny A. Phillips is the clinical chaplain of the J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center.
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