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Hello, Beloved Ghent UMC Community—
On Tuesday, August 4th, our church was hit with six inches of rain in one hour, which, combined with overloaded city mains backing up, caused the flat roof over the Education Building to flood. Water then seeped into the parking-lot-side walls and ceilings, affecting classrooms and spaces from the third floor through the basement. (See images below.)
We are grateful that our Trustees Chair, Steve Loomis, acted quickly to get ServPro on-site that same night to begin mitigation, along with several church members who volunteered to help. We also thank God that our insurance claim was approved, allowing us to move forward with the necessary work.
We have been working closely with our preschool director, Ann Robertson, and the teachers to make sure school can begin on time. Doing so requires us to be creative and flexible with our space. The library has been converted into a classroom for our 3- and 4-year-olds, and the old art storage room has become our second classroom for our 2-year-olds. We are also using portions of the sanctuary and sacristy for preschool storage. We are thankful that our preschool has felt the support of the church and has expressed such gratitude for our teamwork!
Amidst the disruption, there is also an opportunity. For some time now, our congregation has been discerning how God is leading us to use our large building in ways that better serve our congregation and our community. As cliché as it may sound, throughout this process we have been affirming that the Lord does indeed work in mysterious ways! The reconstruction necessitated by the water damage will give our preschool, third-floor classrooms, and basement spaces a much-needed renewal and an opportunity to make some long-overdue updates.
Many have asked, “How can we help?”
First, pray. Please pray for our church, our staff, our leadership, our preschool, and everyone working in our building during this time.
Second, be patient and flexible. We ask that everyone continue to practice a spirit of understanding and grace as we navigate these changes together. Progress takes patience!
And third, please consider giving financially. We are grateful that our insurance will help cover the necessary repairs and give us an opportunity to improve our building so that it can continue to serve our church and our community well. However, this damage comes on the heels of several significant and necessary property expenses, including replacing the sanctuary’s decades-old HVAC system (approximately $48,000), replacing crumpling cast iron pipes in the boiler room, and removing dead trees from the garden, just to name a few. Your financial gifts will help us make necessary repairs throughout our property, while also allowing us to make important updates that will keep our building viable for ministry and future growth. Please see below for information on how to give to Ghent UMC.
This was a once-in-sixty-years storm and flood. While we certainly would not have chosen this circumstance, we want to be good stewards of the opportunity it presents: to care for the building God has entrusted to us and to prepare Ghent UMC for ministry not just today, but sixty years from now.
And as we look toward that future, we want to preserve something that has always been central to who we are: our commitment to hospitality. We want our building to be a place where people are welcomed, where community is formed, and where the love of God is shared.
Thank you for your prayers, your patience, your generosity, and for all the ways you have already stepped up to help. We are grateful for this community and confident that, together, we will move through this season with faith, hope, and unity.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.”-Isaiah 43:2
In Christ’s Strength,
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