Indiana—When Ron Kelly, Cicero Church pastor, heard from Ernie Peckham, Terre Haute Church pastor, of the need to put a new roof on the Terre Haute Church, Kelly offered his services and sought volunteers to support the endeavor. Responding to the same missionary spirit, Peckham encouraged Terre Haute Church members to support through donations to the Cicero Church's India church building and evangelism mission initiatives.

On Sun., May 4, Kelly and a caravan of mission-minded roofers from the Cicero Church arrived at the Terre Haute Church to assist church members as they re-roofed their 52-year-old church. Charles Schlunt and Ralph Willis of the Terre Haute Church had made many preparations leading up to this moment. The ambitious plan was to tear off two layers of deteriorating shingles and apply an entire new roof in a single day! In addition, the dedicated workers patched the roof where air conditioning units had been previously. Soon others kept busy cleaning up the old roofing as it dropped, which they wheeled to the giant dumpster and discarded.

"This is beginning to feel like work," a tired roofer joked as the sun-drenched day waned. A second shift would have been welcomed, but with no relief in sight, the weary volunteers pressed on, with the aid of refreshing water, snacks and meals provided throughout the day.

"This is so good for our church," remarked Sylvia Middaugh, a Terre Haute member. Many hands uniting in a combined effort to make the burden lighter was an inspiring sight.

As the day progressed, Terre Haute Church members rejoiced over the transformation. At 5 p.m., only one side of the church roof was completed. Racing the setting sun, the crew doubled their efforts and worked until dark to shingle the remaining side.

Those who saw the job to completion were bone-tired, but no one had been seriously injured—an answer to prayer! A feeling of relief as well as accomplishment accompanied the faithful laborers as they dragged themselves home.

To the Cicero Church members, the Terre Haute Church members would like to say, "Thank you for giving so generously of your time and abilities to help us make this huge one-day project a success. We couldn't have done it without you!"

Karen Peckham, Terre Haute Church correspondent