Faith Supports Flood Victims

By Nicole Agee, Anchor/Reporter

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By Nicole Agee

Story Created: Jul 27, 2009 at 4:44 PM CST

Story Updated: Jul 27, 2009 at 7:41 PM CST

CEDAR RAPIDS - Last year's flood severely damaged the Cedar Rapids Christian Center, but the faith of its congregation stands strong. It's a faith that's helping that church family and other families close a difficult year. Demolition crews tore down half of the church on Monday and the other half will come down Tuesday. To the eye, the Cedar Rapids Christian Center is nothing more than a pile of rubble. But Pastor Barry Foster looks at this church with his heart. "Hard to see this place go. This was where I came to work for 16 years," he says. Last June, flood waters poured into the church. It would've cost more than the building's worth to rebuild. Now, Pastor Barry watches crews tear it down. His wife, Mary, also looks on. She taught Sunday school on the second floor. "The Christian faith is all about hope and ressurection and I really believe there is a ressurection for this church," she says. Mere blocks away from the Cedar River, Eugene and June Clark watched a similar scene. Their Pastor, Dan Kolander was by their side, to offer his support. "[It's] a very difficult time for these families, especially a home like this one," he says. "They've lived here for 54 years." Kolander helped almost 40 families in his congregation keep the faith in the last year, since he says faith is a foundation that can't crumble. "I don't believe God causes natural disasters but God is with us through those natural disasters." The Clark's said they'll take a lot of memories with them from their house to their new condo. The congregation of the church is holding worship at the Seventh Day Adventist Church Building as they search for a permanent home.

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