Members of a Hendricks County congregation are relying on their faith, as they pick up the pieces following a devastating fire. Members of Eternal Life Baptist Church are hoping life will "spring eternal", for their place of worship.
The walls came tumbling down, at Eternal Life Baptist Church in Hendricks County Saturday. They had to be knocked down for safety reasons after a fire gutted the church Friday night. Investigators say the cause; a lightning strike in the rear of the building started a smoldering fire that once ignited sent flames roaring through the 30-year old church.
Mary Endsley, the Eternal Life Baptist Church Pastor's wife, "It's going to be hard but the Lord help us we're going to rebuild. The church is the people and the people are very supportive."
Rick Hightower WISH-TV News 8 says, "One of the worst things about the tragedy is that church members had recently remodeled the rest rooms and parts of the gymnasium. Now they'll have to start all over again, from scratch."
Church members showed up Saturday to reminisce and figure out what's next for the small congregation.
Beckie Sims has been a member here since the first Sunday service.
Sims says "It's devastating to know where we started and where we've come and seen the accomplishments throughout the church then to all of the sudden have nothing."
The pastor's wife says offers to help have been pouring in.
Mrs. Endsley says, "Our association has called and offered to help us with vacation bible school. If we decide to have it. We've had offers of tents. So people have been very supportive."
Despite the appearance of nothing more than rubble and ashes the congregation says it won't let this apparent act of nature keep them from worshipping on this site again.
"They're all devastated that it burnt down but they're all behind us. We're going to build again. We're going to build again and do better."
The Eternal Life Baptist congregation has found a temporary place to meet. The pastor says the Masonic Lodge on Indianapolis Road in Mooresville has opened its doors to church members.
