GREENVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — A fire that damaged much of its building may bring unexpected but positive results to a Greenville, N.C., congregation.
Memorial Baptist Church was one of two churches damaged by fire on Jan. 13. A third church, Oakmont Baptist, sustained minor damage from a break-in the same night but was not burned.
Rick Bailey, associate pastor at Memorial for the past 23 years, said while the congregation is mourning the damage to its sanctuary and loss of its educational space, it has quickly developed plans to continue its ministry.
On Jan. 14, the day after the fire, the congregation worshipped outside behind its burned buildings. During the service, the congregation of Cornerstone Baptist Church, an African American church, joined them.
“They said they had been praying for a way to broaden their ministry, to join hands across cultures,” Bailey said. “So, in their eyes, God answered their prayers through our tragedy.”
While the fire may lead to stronger racial harmony, Bailey thinks it also might provide a chance for Memorial to change direction in its Sunday school classes. His hope is that small groups might continue to meet during the week.
“This is another blessing in disguise,” he said. “I hope we will rethink our whole Sunday school approach. The barriers that would have kept us from moving from the traditional to non-traditional have been broken down. We're now forced to do ministry differently.”
Churches all across town have offered space, and Memorial plans to hold worship services in a different sanctuary every Sunday afternoon. The church's youth group will meet on Sunday nights in various places, and adults are setting their own schedules for weeknight Bible study.
Temporary church office space has been set up in classrooms at Oakmont, approximately a mile away. And the weekday program for 201 pre-school children continues at Immanuel Baptist Church and St. Timothy's Episcopal Church.
Congregants have responded “extremely well” to the fire, Larry Hovis said. Hovis is the coordinator of North Carolina CBF and a former pastor at Memorial.
“They are obviously grieving over the loss of their church building but also gratified by the response from churches and the community,” Hovis, said. “They also see this as an opportunity to do church without the confines of a building.”
As of Jan. 17, there had been no word from police on whether any suspects had been identified for the fires and break-in.
Founded in 1827, Memorial was the first Baptist congregation in Greenville. Both Memorial and Oakmont are Cooperative Baptist Fellowship partner churches.
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