DERRY — A local congregation, displaced by a ruptured pipe, has found help across denominational lines.
On Jan. 5, the pipes in the Derry Seventh-day Adventist Church burst, sending a flood of water flowing through the upstairs, downstairs and out the front door of the building. A neighbor noticed the water flowing out the front door and notified the Fire Department.
"We are very grateful for the help of the Fire Department," said Pastor Phil Johnson.
After a thorough inspection of the building, extensive damage was found in the sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall on the lower level; damage was estimated at approximately $160,000.
Rhoda Watson, a member of the church and the communications secretary, grew up in the house next to the church and remembers seeing the church built.
"The inside is a disaster," Watson said. "It has to be completely gutted, and all the electrical work needs to be redone."
Watson said she believes that this flood happened for a reason and there may be something better for the church ahead.
With the congregation being unavailable to worship in their building, Johnson had to find a place for his congregation to worship.
Upon Johnson's request, Pastor James Smith of the First Baptist Church in Derry and his board agreed to allow the Derry Seventh-day Adventist Church to use their sanctuary to worship. Such an arrangement works logistically, as the Seventh-day Church worships on Saturday and the Baptist Church on Sunday.
"Pastor Johnson approached us and asked if we had space available," Smith said. "Our church emphasizes the authority of scripture and given our location, we try to share space and open the building where appropriate."
Before the flood, the churches had a casual relationship and occasionally worked together in the soup kitchen, but this is the first time that they have worked this closely together.
"This was something we could do to help a neighbor, help another church and help the community and use the space God has given us," said Smith.
It may be eight to 10 weeks before the Seventh-day church can use their own sanctuary for services, but that has not diminished Johnson's spirits.
"It has been an inconvenience, and at first it was a shock," he said. "But I have every confidence that our building will be made new again, if not better."
