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Thank You.

They started the re-construction two weeks ago. We are still praying for the funds to come in, but we stepped out on faith praying it does.

Met with City Inspectors, a second Insurance Adjuster, and a Contractor this week.

They assigned a new Adjuster because we have more than $300,000.00 in damage.

We have 10 microphones and only the pulpit microphone works. We have no fellowship hall, Sunday School rooms, or nurseries. They did set up free standing A/C units that work okay, but they are sure hard to preach over. It is like preaching in a jet airplane hanger full of babies.

The Contractor says we are looking around 160-180 days from start to finish. We are waiting on the insurance company to respond. We have a $2,500.00 deductible plus the second insurance installment is due in three weeks.

All of this is exciting for me because I can't wait to see how God works it out. Your prayers are still coveted.

I would like to thank everyone for their prayers. Please continue to pray as we have a long way to go to get back to just having a structured Sunday School again.

Richbirdhunter wrote:Where will you be preaching at today? I woke up with you and your church on my heart. Still praying for all.

God blessed. For those that live in Irving you know that the City can sometimes be hard to deal with. God sent us a Christian Inspector. He told us if we could cut the power to the educational building and build a wall separating the two buildings we could use our auditorium.

We hired a restoration and construction company for emergency services. They capped of the electricity to the building that burned. Then they built a wall to separate the buildings. All of this was done through Friday evening and Friday night. On Saturday morning the Inspector came out (which is a miracle) and he gave us permission to use the auditorium.

The auditorium was not damaged by fire, but had a lot of smoke damage. The restoration company then begin to clean from top to bottom. Every light bulb, every song book, every blind, etc. . . A lot of people and a lot hours. They put in two 5 ton free standing A/C units because all of the A/C's were lost in the fire.

The auditorium still does not smell smoke free, but it is so much better than it was. So we have our lights, sound equipment, pulpit, A/C, etc. . . and we are going to be able to use our auditorium. Our Sunday School will all meet in the Auditorium and then we will have a break between about 10:40 and 11:00 and begin church.

I am very thankful that the Lord is still in charge and leading because I would make such a mess of things. I am preaching Matthew 12:14-20 focusing on verse 20, ". . . smoking flax shall he not quench, . . ." The title of the sermon is, "Where There Is Smoke There Can Be Fire." The basis of even though we sometimes want to quit or give up God is never finished. As long as there is smoke there can be fire again!

Sorry for being so long just to answer a short question. It is the preacher in me.

Thanks again for all of your prayers as they are coveted.

Beiruty wrote:no insurance?

Yes we have insurance thankfully. We just have a real high deductible.

One of the grounds keeper (negligently) using a "tourch" set a bush on fire and within seconds spread to the attic. By God's amazing grace the fire department was driving by and immediately begin to extinguish the fire.

My auditorium is just damaged by smoke, but my educational building is either a loss of close to it. Our building is over 60 years old and the City Inspector has just left. He is very nice man and so were the Fire a Investigators. They are concerned with the electrical, the structure of the roof, and asbestos.

Insurance guys are already here and are trying to have contractors come out today. They are going to try and start clean up and separating the two building is hope we can have access to the auditorium.

Last week the same worker put this sign up on our marked.

Our church was burned this morning. We are a small church and struggle financially.

My wife is there now, but I am unable to go see it for myself because I am down with my back and can't walk very far.

First time as a Pastor that I have no answer.

Please pray for me to have wisdom and knowledge to lead. Pray also God would touch my body and I would be able to go to the church just to view the damage. The fire department said we are not allow to go inside, but I would like to at least look at the outside.