The Bibles, water logged and pages crumpled, were only a small part of the water damage at Powerhouse Ministries church, Slater. Wooden pews and carpeting were soaked by a burst in the water pipes that were run through the ceiling in a recent remodeling project. (Kathy Fairchild/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

When Deacon Thomas Poindexter approached the front door of Powerhouse Ministries Friday evening, Feb. 1, he suspected something was amiss.

He was right.

The glass doors were streaked with ice and water.

When he opened the door, water poured out of the building.

Wires and ceiling tiles in the tiny vestibule tumbled to the floor, and above his head, more tiles sagged.

He could see the carpet was soaked through, the wooden legs of the pews were absorbing the excess, and worse, the upholstered seats were saturated. Bibles, hymnals and prayer books were soggy.

Water -- buckets and buckets of water -- and it was everywhere.

Some time after Bible-study classes ended Tuesday evening, Jan. 29, the overhead water pipes had burst from the cold, spewing icy water across the top of the dropped ceiling, down through the walls, and across the floors.

Ceiling tiles sagged from the weight of the water and some had already fallen to the floor in the chapel itself.

In an effort at cost-saving, water had been routed through the ceiling when the church was remodeled last year.

The damage, only partially covered by insurance, was severe enough that it will be three or four months before services can be held in the building, the former Aldridge Tabernacle.

Pastor Charles Lee Stevenson Jr. said Wednesday, Feb. 6, that the congregation has a temporary home at R. Wilson Brown Room at Ferguson Center on the campus of Missouri Valley College. Through February, the congregation will have their regular 10 a.m. Sunday service there.

The regular Thursday service was held at Wayland Temple in Marshall Feb. 7. United Methodist Church in Slater has offered to allow Powerhouse to hold services at their church, too.

Soon, though, the church will have to find a place they can lease until their building is repaired. They'll also have to lease chairs or pews to furnish it, and replace the damaged Bibles and other paper items.

Stevenson said the quickly-growing congregation now numbers about 200, including 40 or 50 students from MVC who attend regular services at the Slater church.

Members of the football and basketball teams and a number of foreign students, representing seven or eight nationalities are enthusiastic, contributing members of the congregation.

A fund has been established at Bank of America on the square in Marshall. Donations can be sent directly to the church at P.O. Box 688, Marshall, or to Powerhouse Ministries Relief Fund c/o Bank of America, 102 East Arrow, Marshall, MO 65340.

More information about Powerhouse Ministries is available at www.pwrhouseministries.org.

Contact Kathy Fairchild at marshallhealth@socket.net