Church Regroups After Fire

The Bethany Christian Church in Arapahoe, N.C., was destroyed by fire on Monday and an extensive recovery of the church grounds has begun. The church’s members stood across the street from the church Tuesday watching Fire Marshall Ben Barnett and the State Bureau of Investigation sort through the smoking remains.Everything’s leading to the electrical outlet on the south wall of the church,” Barnett said. Arson is not suspected, he said, and the SBI was asked to help out “just to be on the safe side.”According to Garland Cahoon, a member of the church board, the building still had its original 1913 wiring. The church had discussed having the wiring replaced but had deemed it too expensive at the time.“When Stephanie and I came home from our trip to Alabama where I performed a wedding we could hardly believe our eyes as we came around the curve in Arapahoe,” said Gary Edge the church’s minister. “It really breaks your heart to come to the crossroads at Arapahoe and see what’s left of Bethany Christian Church.”The congregation gathered for the first time since the fire on Tuesday for a special meeting. Edge reminded parishioners that the last Sunday in the sanctuary, the youth choir, One Voice, led the worship. He said the congregation would move forward now with one voice, one heart, and one faith. He then said, “Let us pray the Lord’s Prayer with one voice.”
The congregation gathered also to discuss where to have Sunday services. “We’ve had an outpouring of offers from other churches,” said church member Terry Cannan.A more long-term concern is where, when and how to rebuild. The church owns the land, so plans are to build again on the site, said church secretary Renee Midyette.

Source:The Church Report Online

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