McAlester Church Wins A $10,000 Gift

A McAlester congregation says a Christmas miracle will help it complete construction of a new church. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Chris Wright explains why Peacable Valley Church in McAlester is counting

Wednesday, December 27th 2006, 9:14 pm

By: News On 6

A McAlester congregation says a Christmas miracle will help it complete construction of a new church.

News on 6 reporter Chris Wright explains why Peacable Valley Church in McAlester is counting its blessings this holiday season.

The church recently won $10,000 in a local contest. After spending three years trying to build a new church, its members say the money couldn't have come at a better time. "I felt in my heart we would win it." Peacable Valley Church member Mary Kay says when her ticket was drawn at last week's $10,000 contest, she was not completely surprised. The congregation needed the money to help complete its new church, and she had a feeling it was her lucky night. "We need to get in our new church building, and god is going to bless us, and we are going to get in that new church building."

Mary Kay picked up the winning ticket while buying food for Peacable Valley at a local grocery store. Each year, the church hands out fruit and candy to the elderly and disabled.

This year though, that good deed came full circle. The contest money will go towards completing work inside the new church. Construction is finished on the church's structure, but the inside still needs some work.

The new church has been under construction for three years now, but with such a small congregation, raising money hasn't always been easy, so most of this $10,000 is going to go towards much needed insulation.

Pastor John McNeal says his congregation is growing rapidly, and the church that has housed it since 1948 is no longer big enough. He also says he is confident the job will be finished soon, thanks to another premonition from Mary Kay. "This prophet of ours, sister Mary, who claimed she was going to win this money ahead of time, also predicted we would be in that building, so we have to do some serious work here."

The new Peacable Valley Church is expected to hold 250 people. It will house classrooms and serve as a youth center.

McAlester area contractors have also volunteered to complete the plumbing and electrical work for free, so construction should be finished in the next few months.