By Jon Roberts – Durango, Colorado . . . When we all work together to advance God’s kingdom, all things are possible no matter how big and daunting the issue is.

This is a lesson the Durango, Colorado church and school found out first-hand on November 25.

The building was facing serious damage after the sewer system backed up and spilled contaminated water throughout the building.  Action had to be taken immediately to ensure that the preschool, an important community outreach, would be able to reopen in January.

The repair estimate was enormous for the 35 members who attended the Durango church.

They immediately went to God in prayer and sought counsel from Him.

Triple Eagle Construction, a small business in Durango, heard about the situation.

They jumped into action working throughout Thanksgiving and Christmas to ensure the school could reopen in January.

All the work was completed without asking for a down payment or even an advance payment.

When the subcontractors contacted the church for payment, the church was faced with a dilemma–how to pay for the emergency repairs.

Hearing about the church’s inability to cover the expenses of the repairs, Triple Eagle absorbed the debt and paid the subcontractors themselves, even refusing to pursue debt collection, put a lien against the church, or take legal action for the outstanding debt, because they trusted the church and a handshake still means something today.

The news about how God worked miracles to repair the building and now the financial stress facing the members, a small church 700 miles south of northern Wyoming knew they had to do something to help their brothers and sisters.

“When one congregation is hurting, we all hurt,” commented Lester Bentley, pastor for the Northeastern Wyoming district. “We, as a congregation, feel this is a very tough row to hoe for any congregation to do alone, especially since it can affect many of the ministry opportunities for that church for years to come as they pay off their debt.”

The Sheridan congregation would like to “challenge all the other churches of the Rocky Mountain Conference to meet or exceed our donation of $200 to help pay off this debt.  Let all work together for the good of the Durango church and the conference,” Bentley concluded.

“It’s an amazing God thing, because the first Sabbath we are going to be back [from suspension of services], we are going to have a celebration of prayer and thanksgiving,” said Gary Force, pastor of Durango church.  “We have a God that serves, protects, provides, and that answered our prayers in ways none of us could have imagined.”

–Jon Roberts is RMC communication/media assistant; photo supplied.