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Cresaptown_inlineCRESAPTOWN, Md.—On June 12 Cresaptown got five inches of rain within two hours. The ensuing flood destroyed the entire first floor of Calvary Baptist Church’s education wing, as well as its gym and sanctuary.

“The Lord met our crisis, and over 30 churches have reached out to our need and sent contributions to help us,” says Pastor Bruce McBride.

Baptist Builders Club provided immediate financial assistance through its Help Up emergency fund. In addition, many businesses gave, contributed, repaired, and painted. “God’s people showed up ready to work and serve each other,” McBride says. “Truly the Lord has come down to touch this place in western Maryland.”

The church had to cancel VBS and put Sunday School and Adult Bible Fellowships on hold for three months. But its Christian school was able to open on time, and “our church can see the handiwork of God in every room.”

McBride says, “We would like to thank the Lord for all He has done to direct our steps and send us people who came and volunteered from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. We also want to thank Regular Baptist Press for helping us get our Sunday material for our nursery and children’s ministry back into action. The GARBC was there for us in the midst of ruin and destruction. We will not forget their love and counsel and prayers expressed to us, and we will not forget the Baptist Builders Club, which met our need with a generous contribution to our church building. Director Michael Nolan was there for me as a pastor and stayed in touch with us through the months as we repaired several buildings damaged from water. I cannot thank the Baptist Builders Club enough for ministering to us when we were at the end of the rope. We thank God for the kindness expressed to our church through the GARBC. They came through when we were on our knees seeking the Lord to intervene.”

During the rebuilding Calvary Baptist Church claimed 1 Peter 5:10 as its theme verse: “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (ESV).