Onondaga Nation Church Spared a Third Time in Many Years

 

Having survived previous attempts of arson, the Onondaga Nation Seventh-day Adventist Church is already known on the reservation as “the church that will not burn.” On July 5^, 2009, a Sunday morning, the Wesleyan Chapel Among the Onondagas was completely destroyed by fire. On the same street United Methodist Church Onondaga Mission experienced major fire, smoke and water damage. Fortunately no one was injured and church services weren’t in progress at the time of the fires. However, still standing was a beacon of Christian hope: the Onondaga Nation Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Wesleyan Chapal Among the Onondagas

After spending two hours to distinguish the flames, the firefighters spent much of the day investigating and determining the cause of the early morning fires. Recognizing the call to help, the Seventh-day Adventist church sprang into action and contacted several local businesses for food and beverage donations in hopes to reach out to distraught community members. Food was provided for firefighters and displaced members of the Wesleyan and Methodist churches.

Onondaga volunteers provided food for community members

Due to the fires, traffic was directed past the church and each person driving by witnessed the power of Christian fellowship and ministry first hand. In an attempt to rebuild the community’s faith and hope, the Onondaga Seventh-day Adventist Church has offered the future use of their facility to the congregations of both burned churches for services while they make arrangements for their future homes.

The members of the Onondaga Nation SDA church praise God for His continued protection of their church building. We pray the hearts of many will be touched through the love and generosity shared by the church that will not burn.

By: Pastor Aaron Purkeypile