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Church Congregation Celebrates Despite Being Displaced By Flooding

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (CBS4) - A church community in Englewood is making the best of its soggy situation. Just days after a major renovation heavy rain flooded the inside of the church.

The pews of Sanctuary Christian Fellowship sat empty on Sunday as just feet away floodwaters did tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. But outside on Sunday there was a celebration. Church organizers say they wanted to show the congregation every cloud has a silver lining.

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(credit: CBS)

"There's a blessing in here somewhere, and after we drain it out we will find where the blessing is," a speaker told the congregation.

"I look at this and say, 'Okay God, what do we do next,' " Senior Minister Michael Gray said.

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Gray says at its deepest point the church's property was under about eight feet of water.

"Ordinarily this is six acres and it looks like a park … it's all green space," Gray said.

RELATED: Church In Cherry Hills Village Flooded One Week After Major Renovation

The floodwater also took over the basement, destroying children's rooms and offices. But Gray wants people to remember that everything happens for a reason, and that things could always be worse.

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Senior Minister Michael Gray shows CBS4's Mark Taylor the flooding (credit: CBS)

"What I want to do is remind people from a faith standpoint that this happens to everybody throughout the world," Gray said.

As the non-denominational church starts it's road to recovery, they're already getting help through donations that have come pouring in.

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(credit: CBS)

Additional Resources

Those who would like to make a donation to help the church can visit the Sanctuary Christian Fellowship website or a GoFundMe page.

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