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SALT LAKE CITY — An example of good that can come from difficult circumstances — that's how Mormon Newsroom describes the friendship between a ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a Community of Christ congregation in Joplin, Missouri.
Both experienced a devastating tornado in their community in May 2011. Mormon Newsroom reports just hours after the tornado hit, Pastor Steve Hicks of the Joplin Community of Christ church visited Bishop Dave Richins of the Joplin Second Ward. The two worked together professionally and knew of each other's church leadership roles.
Only a few members of the Community of Christ congregation had been affected by the storm, but among LDS members, 58 homes were damaged and the stake center was destroyed.
Pastor Hicks offered to let the LDS ward meet in the Community of Christ building rent-free. Members of his congregation agreed, calling it "the right thing to do." The LDS Church accepted the offer, although it entered a lease agreement to meet at the building on Sundays and for youth activities on Wednesdays.
"They were so giving," said Bishop Richins. "Their pastors made it clear that they would do anything in their power to accommodate us."
The ward met there for nearly 18 months while the LDS stake center was rebuilt.
Several weeks before the new building was completed, the Community of Christ congregation presented Bishop Richins with more than $1,100 to help beautify the church. Two large paintings were purchased with the donation.
This October, 35 members of the Joplin Second Ward donated the materials then helped Community of Christ members paint their church. The LDS members returned last month to finish the painting of the church sanctuary, where their sacrament services had been held.
"After the shock of the storm has faded away, we have this relationship formed that is lasting," Pastor Hicks said. "There's probably a good chance it never would have happened otherwise."
