A little saving grace helps small church recovern stolen trailer

By Christina Lent

The Beaverton Valley Times, Nov 30, 2006, Updated Oct 30, 2009

ADVERTISEMENTS

The new Church! At Bethany passed its first test of faith with flying colors.

After becoming the victim of a devastating theft that left the church on a Sunday without any of its equipment and supplies, the congregation pulled together to make sure services would continue as planned.

The church meets Sunday mornings in the Portland Community College Rock Creek campus forum theater for a 9:15 family-centered, kid-focused production called Sunday Morning Live! followed by a contemporary worship service at 10:30.

Because the church does not have its own building, it stores all of its supplies, equipment, sound system and props in a 24-foot Haulmark trailer.

Thieves stole that trailer prior to the Nov. 12 services, prompting church members into action.

“The entire experience definitely brought us together and strengthened our church,” said Lead Pastor Matt Payne. “Like dealing with any crisis or catastrophe, we had to work together in order to move forward.”

Amanda Corcoran, director of the children’s ministry, agreed.

“It was definitely a challenge, but we were able to do the children’s service and find ways to make it work,” Corcoran said. “Luckily, I had the lessons with me and people were able to gather items we needed.

“That was a very powerful Sunday for us.”

Not much hope

When a church member arrived early Nov. 12 at the Somerset Christian Church to pick up the trailer for Sunday services, the trailer was not in its normal parking spot behind the building.

Learning that the backup driver had also not towed it to PCC for services, Payne realized something was wrong.

“We found the lock for the trailer laying there in the parking lot,” Payne recalled. “It had been cut.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>