OK Roofers Give 50-Year-Old Church A New Roof

A 50-year-old church in Oklahoma City had a 40-year-old roof and one big problem.

Within days of losing its insurance coverage, help was on the way and it came from roofers all over the state.

Once a year, members of the Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association give back to the community.

This year, they selected Providence Church of the Nazarene. The church is getting a $30,000 roof put on free of charge. 

“This is more than we expected,” interim pastor Terry Edwards said. 

This last month, Edwards suddenly found himself and his congregation in a crisis.

“The roof had been on there about 40 years and we didn’t have the money to replace it,” Edwards said. 

The church received a letter stating if the church didn't get a new roof by August 20, the church's insurance policy would be canceled.

The pastor said he was told the company didn't want to be responsible for damage inside the church due to an old, leaky roof. 

“And we didn’t know what to do,” Edwards said. “We were scrambling and were praying and making calls."

Edwards contacted a friend who then directed him to J.R. Emrich.

“The board of directors voted that we wanted to make this our charitable roof project,” Emrich said.

Emrich is the president of the Oklahoma Roofing Contractors Association, and he says this is about giving back.

“And he said, 'let me see what I can do,' and see what he’s doing. It’s fantastic,” Edwards said.

Nearly 20 roofers using donated materials from multiple roofing contractors across the state are making a new quality roof for this church a reality.

“All coming together to try to give back to our community,” Emrich said.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” Edwards said. “Had no idea it was going to be this magnitude and this great, and our congregation is elated.”

The south side of the church is all that's left to complete.

Crews will finish up the project Tuesday.