CEDAR RAPIDS — For months after floodwater caused about $350,000 worth of damage to the Eden United Church of Christ, the small congregation debated about whether to rebuild. But members came together, reopened the doors and rose above the disaster. On Sunday, they celebrated the reopening and rebirth of their beloved building at 351 Eighth Ave. SW.

“There’s a lot of sentimental attachment to the building. That’s why a lot of people wanted to return and rebuild it,” church board President Bob Ehlinger said.

Six months ago, few believed they’d ever be able to come back. “Everything was muck. There was not anything down there that was salvageable,” Ehlinger said.

“You have to pray a lot and have a lot of faith that things are going to be better,” said Erna Brendes, a member of the church for 37 years.

Deciding to rebuild was tough. Thirty of the congregation’s 100 members have dropped out. Eden’s minister also retired after leading the church for the past 38 years.

“Our church was always, to some extent, ran by our ministerial leadership. Now we’re kind of floundering a little bit because we’re trying to run it ourselves,” church board member Donna Borntrager said.

Generations of families have worshipped at Eden. “I just feel at home here,” Brendes said.

Members refused to let water come between them and their faith. “We’ve kind of been knocked down. So the only way to go is up,” Borntrager said.

Now that the church has reopened, growing the flock has become a priority.
“We welcome younger people, but at the moment, we don’t have a lot of younger people,” Borntrager said.

Members believe their new building will bring more people in and ensure the congregation will keep praying together for another century.