TODAY'S MNA PRESS NEWS

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
  by MONTANA NEWS ASSOCIATION



I am writing with some very heavy news this evening. The Chapel of Hope has suffered a very devastating loss last night. Last night around
12:45am, I received a telephone call that the the chapel building was in the process of burning to the ground. I arrived about 5-10 minutes
later to witness the entire building engulfed in flames. The entire building and all of it's contents were a complete loss. Unfortunately,
we were still in the process of upgrading our heating system in order to obtain an insurance policy. Our bus, which was parked next to the
chapel was also a complete loss.

The building and all of its contents can be replaced, besides, they belonged to God anyway and He will replace them as He sees fit. Some of
the other personal belongings, however, consisted of items of such high sentimental value, words cannot express the sense of loss. Pastor T
lost all of his original studio master recording from when he was in the music industry. The bus contained 9 scooters that were to be given as
Christmas presents to the DiTonno kids and for the kids at the group home to use.

Many of you will ask, what now? That is what we were asking ourselves last night. To a person, we all heard the same message. We Will
Rebuild!!!! God will show us the way and provide the means. We will not let a tragedy like this keep us from doing the work God has put
before us. The situation with the group home is uncertain at the moment. It is in God's hands and anything that comes about will be for
the glory of His kingdom.

Through the flames that have caused such destruction and devastation, the enemy has only forged the steel of our resolve to be faithful
servants of the Lord. God's truth has shown through, that with Him, we can do anything, and without Him we are can do nothing.

The building may be gone, but the church lives on in all of us. The music equipments and instruments may be gone, but we will continue to
praise and worship the Lord every hour. The chairs may be reduced to rubble, but we will all be seated at the banquet table together. All
that we have is on loan to us from God. It was His building, His instruments, His chairs, His everything. I have no doubt that if it is
God's will. There will be a new building, new instruments, new chairs, etc. Out of these ashes will rise a mighty fortress of spiritual
warfare. A grand concert hall from which to sing His praises. A seat for all to sit in communion with the king. It could be a tent, or a
high rise. Whatever it is, as long as the Lord is there, I can think of no better place to be.

We are asking you to pray for God's will in this matter. I would also ask that you pray for Pastor Tony and his family and the boys at the
group home. This is the only real home and family that some of these kids have ever known and they are all pretty shook up.


May God's peace and love be with each and every one of you.


Marty Malone
Roundup, MT