LAHARPE — Ashley and David Wright’s belief that God wanted them to start a church led them to invest all their money into an abandoned church in LaHarpe.
“We don’t have a dime but we’re very wealthy in spirit,” David said. “We have nothing. We are nobody. It’s all God. He sent us here to revive the area. We know He’s going to provide.”
The couple met through their jobs in law enforcement. Ashley originally is from Fort Worth, Texas, and David is from Baltimore, Md. Together, they decided to leave their jobs and devote their time in service to God. They both grew up in a Baptist religion. David has no formal theological training but said he is ordained through an apostolic church in Virginia.
Previous to coming to LaHarpe six weeks ago they lived “off the grid” in rural Montana.
Along with Ashley’s three daughters, they suffered through bitter cold temperatures with no utilities and no running water.
Ashley said she survived close calls on harrowing mountain roads with an hour and a half drive to work.
“We had true miracles on that mountain,” Ashley said.
While Ashley worked, David studied the word of God.
“It was just me and God on that mountain, all day and all night to hear His voice,” David said.
After about two years, the couple felt God wanted them to lead a church. They explored options on the East Coast and were on their way to see a church in Pennsylvania when their SUV engine blew a head gasket. While stranded in a small town in Wisconsin they saw an online listing for a church for sale in LaHarpe.
The couple has no ties to the area.
“God is in Kansas,” David said. “I said, OK, that’s where He wants us to go.”
The couple invested their savings and money from the sale of their Montana property, about $20,000, into the church, which they have named “The Revival Church.”
Since the purchase, the couple said they have discovered the church needs significantly more work than they initially assumed.
God has also helped them in that endeavor, they said, sending various helping hands their way to deal with such things as water lines, plumbing, a gas line, toilets, sinks, a tarp for the roof and even Christmas gifts for their daughters. Roof repairs were estimated to cost anywhere from $11,000 to $40,000.
Jim Tholen, owner of Tholen’s Heating & Cooling of Iola, donated about $135 worth of services to provide heat to part of the building. He said he was inspired to help because of a shared love of Jesus. He wished the couple success.
