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ROUNDUP MONTANA READER SPEAKS HIS MIND REGARDING THE BURNING OF CHAPEL HOPE
  by MONTANA NEWS ASSOCIATION

A letter to the Editor

I write this letter with a heavy heart for what is happening in our community. Last Sunday Evening November 15 at approximately midnight, the Chapel Of Hope was Burnt to the Ground.

The Chapel of hope is operated by the Chapel Of Hope Ministries of Roundup and spearheaded by Pastor Tony and MaLinda DiTonno. The Ministry started as a home for disadvantaged youth. Many of our own community teens have been through the program and most have been
without cost to the community or the Parents. Since it’s inception, Pastor and his wife have faced tremendous criticism and ridicule within the community as well as vicious attacks against their integrity, slanderous remarks and venomous threats. Yet under extreme persecution and libel attacks, Pastor T has remained steadfast and focused on God and the life’s he has extended himself to selflessly.

“Let he who is sinless cast the first stone”. There have been a lot of verbal stones thrown this way, must be lots of sinless people around here!

There are many, now young adults in this community whom Pastor T has touched spiritually, if they were honest and came forward, just through his teen center he ran years ago here in Roundup. He has extended his home, his life and his commitment to helping young
teens, not just here in Roundup.
Yet always scrutinized and verbally chastised for his efforts.

I know this sounds like an obituary, but it is not, it is New life giving birth to a community who has treated someone very unfair and bias, based on gossip and angry people.

Chapel Of Hope was and is still a community minded Church with Unity as its’ focus. God’s word is not compromised at the Chapel Of Hope, and its members are always the first to jump into the trenches when needed.

The residents at the Youth Christian Home as well as the youth members of the church worked together in unity to help many of Roundup’s senior citizens. What truly saddens my heart, probably more then anything else is, a week ago Sunday our Chapel burnt down and only one Church and Pastor from this entire Church community has called. Not an offer of prayer, not a card of support. One Church offered its’ sanctuary for a two week period with conditions.

Chapel Of Hope is noted for its’ strong music Ministry. They were beginning to prepare for a Worship Music album for International release. They no longer have a house of worship, they no longer have the equipment to record with or from, yet Pastor T tells us, “This is a time to stand strong in our faith, for we do not stand alone, we stand with God. Do not put your trust and faith in people, stay focused on God.
If we take nothing else from this tragedy, let us walk away with a testimony that will show the power of God. There isn’t a man alive or ever lived that can take the most valuable thing I possess, that’s my faith.”

Pray for our community. God has given us as a Christian community an opportunity to act, and you must now look at this situation and ask yourself, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

The Chapel Of Hope is not dead; it is very much alive and will grow bigger and stronger through this trial & testing period.

REMEMBER; Let he who is sinless cast the first stone!


A member of the Chapel Of Hope
Aaron