Fire Guts Chestertown Sanctuary en area fire companies recently responded to a two-alarm blaze at the Chestertown (Md.) church about 6:30 a.m. on February 21. Police smelled smoke and went looking for the source, said Kevin McDaniel, the church’s pastor. Fire gutted the sanctuary and damaged the older portion of the church. A newer section of the church sustained smoke damage, but can be repaired.
T
“Members have shed a lot of tears,” said McDaniel, “but the good news is that no one was hurt. The building can be replaced, but people can’t.” There is adequate insurance coverage for rebuilding. Local clergy and a funeral home have shown kindness by offering the use of their facilities for worship services until repairs are completed later this year. The congregation plans to
worship with the nearby Rock Hall church for the time being, and will move services to the Chestertown fellowship hall following clean up of the smoke damage.
The Chestertown (Md.) church is ablaze before firefighters arrive on the scene.
The sanctuary was destroyed by an electrical fire that investigators believe originated in the electric organ.
New Hope Kids Appear on Hope Channel ight-year-old Marissa Chappell and 9-year-old Lauren Gantman of the New Hope church in Fulton, Md., along with Ann Roda, New Hope’s associate pastor, were recent guests on the Hope Channel’s newly launched, live show Let’s Pray. The interactive television program allows viewers to submit prayer requests by phone, Facebook and Twitter, and to ask other viewers to pray for them.
E
During the broadcast, Roda discussed the importance of teaching children about prayer, citing examples of what is modeled at New Hope’s Kids Church, such as prayer postures, praying the names of God and providing an environment where children can be themselves while praying. Chappell and Gantman both shared the importance of prayer in their lives. Referring to prayer positions, Chappell said, “When we open our arms during prayer, we are receiving God and letting Him fill our bodies. When we lie down (prostrate prayer), we are giving ourselves to God.”
New Hope church members Marissa Chappelll and Lauren Gantman prayed for callers on the Hope Channel’s Let’s pray broadcast. 20 | V ISITOR April 2012
Gantman talked about keeping a prayer journal and read some entries from her own prayer journal. Both girls prayed for the individuals who called in with their prayer requests. “It was amazing to see how these young girls prayed for these strangers and their prayer needs with absolutely no hesitation—praying for them by name and mentioning their individual needs,” said Roda. The children of the New Hope church experience intercessory prayer by praying for people who post requests on the Hope Channel’s Let’s Pray Facebook page.
The Challenge is published in the Visitor by the Chesapeake Conference 6600 Martin Road, Columbia, MD 21044 Phone: (410) 995-1910 ■ ccosda.org President, Rick Remmers Editor, Samantha Young