From The Workshop

FROM THE WORKSHOP One Sunday driving into the parking lot, I noticed part of the fencing on the west side was missing. Closer examination found broken pickets on the ground and others half hanging to the 2X4 stringers (support boards). I wondered about it but went on. On Monday I asked Kristi (the office admin) about the fence and she said, “Oh, we were on the news. The police were chasing a guy and he abandoned his car at the corner of our parking lot. He got out of his car, jumped the fence and was running. The police were after him. One jumped the fence and another officer ran through it!”
 
Did they catch the guy? “Yes, a couple of yards over.” So First Christian Church of Moore was in the news last month. Or at least the corner of our parking lot and the broken fencing. 
 
A few weeks later there’s another gathering in the parking lot. This time it’s a couple of pickups and a trailer. All the old sections of fencing are stacked near the trailer. Where they had stood was a new row of fencing. A workman had about five feet to go setting up individual pickets and nailing them in place. Having built three privacy fences in years past, I had to stop and admire the work. I said to the two men standing by that the carpenter was doing it the right way, putting up one picket at a time, adjusting the height as he went along. 
 
“I appreciate that,” one of the men said. “He’s using a jig that keeps the fence level.” And I said, “So the guy putting up the fence runs
the company or just this job?”  
 
“I’m Alan Bolding, the owner of the company, Trusted Fence. We’re working with the Police Department to replace this fence.” And I said, “You do good work. Is that treated pine you’re using?”
 
“No Sir, we use cedar fencing exclusively. It weathers better and it lasts longer than pine.”
 
I introduced myself as the interim pastor of the church. Turns out the other fellow standing there is Clint Byley who’s with the Moore Police Department. I asked what happened with the suspect and Mr. Byley filled in the details of the event and the chase across several yards. In pursuit one of the responding officers had to break through the aging fence. When this happens the City of Moore works with area contractors to repair the damage. In this case several community groups came together to provide the funds, restoring the fencing better than before. Alan Bolding’s business model includes donating time and materials to build and support community good will. Mr. Byley said that any credit we give should go to the Moore Police Department and their officers. In part their mission is “to walk alongside our residents to create a city desirable to live in.” They are passionate about protecting the community “and humbly putting Service before Self.”
 
Thinking I was just going out to admire a new fence, I came back with renewed appreciation for our Police Department, a business owner*, and unnamed donors all working together to build and maintain a caring community, Moore OK. We are proud to be part of this team.
 
See you Sunday, 
Pastor Tom

 
*Alan Bolding @ trustedfencecompany.com