How did ponyboy and johnny find the church in -the outsiders by se hinton?

In the novel "The Outsiders" by S. E. Hinton, Ponyboy and Johnny find the church while wandering around the streets after the rumble between their gang, the Greasers, and the Socs. They are looking for a safe place to hide, as Johnny has accidentally killed a Soc during the fight and they fear for their lives.

They come across the church, which is described as a "white frame church" with a "shingled steeple" and a "cross on top." They choose to go inside the church because they believe it will be a sanctuary, offering them protection from the outside world and the police.

Inside the church, Ponyboy and Johnny find comfort and a sense of peace. They talk about their lives and their friendship, and they share their dreams for the future. The church becomes a temporary haven for them during their time of crisis.