On Christmas Eve morning we received a text message from our oldest grandson that Logansport's First Baptist Church was burning down.
I quickly got up and got on Facebook because everyone puts the latest information on there. My heart just sank when I saw the pictures. It was still burning, and burned way up into the day.
Arson is suspected, and there is an intense investigation going on to try and prove that.
The church burned down in 1963, but the big beams in the sanctuary were saved along with the baby grand piano. NOT this time!
They did manage to save the newest building built which is the fellowship hall that has a modern kitchen and bathrooms plus room enough to have church.
Let me share a few pictures, and then I'll tell more.
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The cross will be taken down and added to the new church building.
Our small town fire department, most of which is volunteer, and others (including my son), worked as hard as they could to put out the fire. It was a raging, hot fire.
I'm sort of glad we weren't here to see it. We went by there as soon as we got back into town on Monday, and there are no words to describe it. Our pastor was driving around still looking at the rubble, and he looked so pitiful.
We were married in that church, and our son was baptized there along with various funerals of family members, weddings, and such. Lots of memories. My husband grew up here and watched the other church burn.
The church sits right next to the property where the old school used to be. The school burned in 1991, and it was arson, but no one was ever arrested. FBC bought the remaining school grounds along with the old gym, and the old home ec. building which is now the youth building.
At least they have plenty of room to start over and places to use. They are bringing in portable buildings for the offices.
So please keep the church members in your prayers. We have several older deacons that aren't in good health, and this has really taken a toll on them.
Thanks,
ShirleyC
6 comments:
Shirley: That is truly sad. So much of our lives have lovely memories of our church building. It is just a building and God is with us everywhere. To think, however, that perhaps someone did this on purpose is beyond comprehension! I hope that the coming together for rebuilding will be a comfort to all.
Best,
Bonnie
Oh Shirley,
I am so sad for you. What in the world posseses people to do something like burn down a church.
There are truly evil people in our world.
Oh Shirley,
I am so sorry this has haappened. How troubling to think that it may be arson. A church building is not the church. The church is the people and the love that is shared between the members. But the church building is the physical place you see and think of when you mention church. I hope there is great good that comes from this.
Deb
How very sad. It is so amazing and uplifting to see the cross still standing tall.
Thank you for commenting on my blog today. I am so sad to hear this news. I agree with the other comments here. The WORD of God stands forever!
Blessings,
Kathi
We went through a similar experience in 1989 when Hurricane Hugo took our church. It left hardly anything. We got a big yellow/white striped circus looking tent and held services in there until the new church was built. Our family had some of the same memories in that church as you did in yours. It takes it's toll on everyone. Y'all are in my prayers.
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