An overnight fire destroyed the Mission Hills Baptist Church in Palmyra. The fire posed a major challenge to the all volunteer Palmyra Fire Department.
But for the pastor and his flock it's become another chance to prove their faith in God.
Even from a distance the scene is tough to look at.
Around 1: 30 a.m. Thursday, the Mission Hills Baptist Church church was reported to be on fire.
Pastor Alvin Lewis, who is also the chaplain for the Palmyra Fire Department received a page that a church on the south end of town was on fire.
He said he could see the glow of the fire out the window of the parsonage which is just across the field from the church.
"I tried to get into the building, into the front door but when I grabbed hold of the handle it was just too hot and I couldn't get in," Lewis said. "I thought in some way maybe I could alleviate some of the flame, but I just couldn't get into the building."
Strong winds blew the flames back onto the building and caused the structure to go up very quickly.
The Palmyra All Volunteer Fire Department arrived on scene about 2 a.m. This fire was especially challenging for them because there are no water hydrants in that part of town.
"It took us probably, almost to get a good tanker, continuous water supply going, and that's getting all the trucks here, it took us pretty close to an hour to get a good water supply established by having to haul water," Palmyra Fire Departmen Chief Gary Crane said.
Mutual Aid assistance from 5 other departments also arrived on the scene to help supply water to battle the blaze.
In the cold light of day, it's hard for congregation members to express what they feel when seeing what left of their church.
"Just overwhelmed. I don't know what to tell you. It's just an overwhelming thing to have complete devastation like this," congregation memeber Dean McAfee said.
But Pastor Lewis and his congregation are people of faith and they believe that God has a purpose in everything that happens.
"I've talked with many of our folk they responded when they heard about the fire. They've been here with us throughout the night and they've continually told me, " Preacher, this isn't going to be the end this is just the beginning of what God wants to do," Lewis said.
The congregation broke ground on the church back in 2003. The building was built by the members of the congregation. It took about 3 years to complete.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
TV Station Profiles & Public Inspection Files forKHQA