Six months after arson, St. Louis congregation moves back into sanctuary
Only six months after flames from an early-morning arson tore through the building, more than a hundred members gathered to worship in their newly refinished sanctuary for the first time. For many, it felt like a hard-earned homecoming.
"To be back home is a blessing," said
The blaze, set about
"It looked like the warehouses you see that are gutted out," said Kemp.
It was the most serious of a spate of crimes targeting churches last summer, mostly limited to graffiti. The case has remained under investigation.
Insurance covered some of the cost at
"It was a lot of work," Irving, the pastor for 21 years, said after the service. "To see the condition that the church was in and to see the transformation to today, it's just so much joy."
Irving described the building's rehab as "a total gut job," with walls replaced throughout the building.
In the first few months after the fire, the displaced congregation was accommodated in the
Until Sunday, services were confined to the smaller fellowship hall, typically the site of social events and meals. Sunday marked the congregation's triumphant return to the sanctuary.
As Irving's sermon reflected, the challenging stretch provided a firsthand lesson in perseverance that was not lost on the congregation.
"It's a church that has been damaged but is keeping the faith to move forward despite what the enemy tried to do to us," Irving said. "It's always an encouraging message, a message of hope."
She said the setback was especially painful because it came after the church had expanded its space to meet the needs of its growing membership.
"It made us more resilient and determined," Little said. "As much as it hurt when it happened, it feels so good now."
Although major portions of repairs have been completed, Little said that some bathrooms, an office area and a space for children's church activities still need work.
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