Church in the Windshield

Church in the Windshield

Buckeye Brethren Church

June 17, 2018 Father’s Day

Ten miles northeast of Abilene, Kansas stands a little white well-kept out on the prairie type of church. The church stands across the street north from an old grocery store now long since closed. One family lives in a house next to the grocery store. Just across the street east of the church stands a nice looking red brick building that houses an insurance company.

 

There is a grass driveway that leads to the church where people park along one side in random formation. Though the parking formation is random, members of the church usually park near the same place each Sunday morning. Interestingly enough each person has their own routine time of arrival, first one and then another until they have all arrived.

 

Sheron and I enter the church by way of a nice looking red colored door on the south side of the church. Upon entry of the church we climb a few steps to gain access to the main floor.  There is a wooden stand at the top of the stairs where we observe a hand full of bulletins. 

I pick up one of the bulletins to see the service order for the day. I check to see if my name is spelled right and it is as always.  You see, this little church learned how to keep its doors open.    It does it by inviting guest ministers to come to the church and share a message.

 

Consequently, I am invited to come to the church once in a while and share the message for the day.

Over the years, pastors and laity shared God’s message from many different points of view.  Thus the church has a very healthy understanding of faith, hope and the love of Jesus Christ. 

I greet people and make my way to the front of the church as it is time for the service to start. As the service starts I observe the congregation and notice that all twelve or so are present; there are smiles on their faces and there is sense of warmth and caring in the sanctuary.  These people truly care for each other.

Sun shines through beautiful stained glass windows on the east; there is a wonderful atmosphere of worship.  I announce the first hymn and a member of the congregation sets the CD to play accompany music through the sound systems. 

After the singing comes a time of prayer; I ask for people to share their joys, thoughts and prayer concerns so we can focus.  Then it happens, everybody starts talking about the fire at Buckeye on the previous Friday, two days before the church service.

The fire started in a vacant building just south of town and they think it started because of an electrical short. Strong southerly winds blew sparks and embers across the grocery store and over the roof of the church. People were anxious that the old grocery store and the church were going to be burned but fireman came, they said.

 

Fireman came from at least six different fire districts with maybe a dozen trucks; saved the grocery store and protected the church. Sparks from the fire though fell on the dry grass immediately north of the church and set the cemetery a blaze.  The strong southern wind swept flames through the cemetery as quickly as an eagle diving to earth to snatch its prey.

In a moment, fire jumped the north boundary fence of the cemetery and moved swiftly in the dry grass toward a homestead three quarters of a mile away. Could it be stopped in time to save the house and out buildings? Yes, it could be stopped and it was but not until it was within a few hundred yards of the dwelling. Thank you, Lord, for area firemen and mutual aid agreements of fire departments.

 

We had a prayer and I shared God’s message for the day, but I think the fire message was more prominent. Here remains the church strong in the spirit and spared in the fire!  Who could top a message like that?

 
Until next time keep the faith and stay out of the fire.

Ron & Sheron, Drivers behind the Windshield

Epilogue:

If you are traveling and would like to have a great experience, visit the Brethren Church in Buckeye. They would gladly welcome you.  The service starts at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday.

 

Let us know where you are located and maybe one day, we will see your church in our windshield.