My nomination for news story of 1999 never made anyone else's Top 10 List. In 1998 I wrote about the loss of our century-old church in Pilot Mound, Iowa, to fire. Our church, like many others, was challenged by declining rural demographics and rising costs.
Insurance provides a head start.
But it's difficult for a rural church to afford enough insurance to rebuild at today's costs. Our building committee of 12 spent countless hours and untold energy discussing options. We were encouraged by churches of all denominations that held pancake breakfasts and soup suppers for us. Sunday Schools and youth groups contributed. We knew that we had to raise money from outside our sphere of contacts.