A Gathering in Hope : A Novel (Hope)

Pastor Sam Gardner's congregation has voted to expand their meetinghouse. But before building can commence, the County Environmental Board and the Department of Natural Resources put the quietus on the plan for at least four months. Even worse, the meetinghouse itself must be locked down for as long. A colony of endangered Indiana bats have made the tree beside the meetinghouse, and the meetinghouse attic, their place of hanging, mating, and living, which poses a big problem for the congregation. Aside from the fact that their fanged visitors are engaging in sinful acts on church property, until these bats leave for hibernation, the congregation is left without a gathering place. And when an over-zealous Leonard Fink takes matters into his own hands, he may land Sam in jail.