I am writing to give you an update on recovery operations at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Vestal NY and to ask you to prayerfully consider helping complete the restoration of the church building which sustained catastrophic flood damage as a result of Tropical Storm Lee

Vestal is a small town along the Pennsylvania state line just west of I-81 and Binghamton. I first wrote you in September 2011 to make you aware of the historic flooding that wrecked the Christian Education floor of the church, ruining the heating, electrical and plumbing systems, destroying the restrooms, nursery and also the kitchen.

The PCA has responded well and Mission to North America (MNA) channeled recovery funds, deployed staff and mobilized volunteers to assist our church family in Vestal. I asked you to help repair the church building so that the congregation could restart worship and use their building as an outpost to serve the flooded community. I can now report that much has been accomplished since September through your strong response.

Last Sunday the church worshipped in their sanctuary for the first time since the flood. This was a very emotional time for our New Hope PCA family, and although the restoration of the building is not yet complete we have much to be thankful for.

The congregation and Pastor Thompson are deeply grateful for those who have sacrificially given financial gifts, served on recovery teams and most of all, prayed for wisdom and encouragement for their church family.

Now that they are able to use the physical plant again they are planning to escalate ministry to flood affected families in the community, many of whom are still trying to navigate the matrix of issues that are keeping them from returning home. The opportunities to reach out with God’s love are seemingly without number.

A clear picture of the remaining work needed to be done on the church and the cost to undertake it is now in view. Staircases must be replaced, a major sump system installed, a vestibule rebuilt. Some of the work can be accomplished by church members and volunteers but the majority must be undertaken by licensed contractors.

Bids have been secured and approved, but $20,000 will be needed to finish the restoration.To give a gift to help meet this need click here or mail a gift to Mission to North America, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 101, Lawrenceville GA 30043. MNA withholds no administrative fees so all (100%) of your gift will be used to restore the church.

Arlie Hooten is a Ruling Elder on the Session of Memorial Presbyterian Church in Ellizabethton, TN. He works full time as the Disaster Relief Coordinator for the Presbyterian Church in America.

[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced in this article is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]