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Prayers Answered for Church in McAdoo

MCADOO — After fears it would have to close, a historic protestant church in Schuylkill County has more than a fighting chance to stay open. We first told...
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MCADOO -- After fears it would have to close, a historic protestant church in Schuylkill County has more than a fighting chance to stay open.

We first told you about this century-old church's struggle in March.  After our story, church leaders were stunned by how the community stepped up to save the last remaining protestant church in McAdoo.

Christ Reformed United Church of Christ has been sitting on East Washington Street in McAdoo for 119 years. This July would make it 120.

But church leaders weren't sure the last remaining protestant church in McAdoo would make it to that historic anniversary.

The leaders were trying to raise $10,000 to make it to that anniversary and possibly to the end of the year.

"We got a thousand dollars from an out-of-state resident, another thousand from church current and past members," said consistory president Gary Potter, Christ Reformed United Church of Christ.

Another local church even raised $1,000 for them.

Then, church leaders say there was divine intervention.

"Heller's Gas had seen the story on Channel 16, and offered to make up the difference."

Potter calls it divine intervention because the Heller's Gas employee who saw the story, James Owens, rarely even watches the news. He just happened to see our newscast and felt compelled to try to help.

"I felt like it was a good opportunity and something that kind of hit me, and I went and approached Paul Gardner Jr. who is the president of our company," said Owens.

The Gardner family and Heller's Gas gave Christ Reformed a check for $7,000, bridging their gap and possibly ensuring their future.

"I want to say deep from the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much. The congregation is just so incredibly happy and so blessed," said church member Jennifer Rojas.

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