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Jessica Jackson
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Church goes on for members of Mt. Zion
Church members are beginning the long process of moving forward after Tuesday’s fire damaged parts of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church.
“It was just very hurting to see,” Pastor Calvin W. Miller said.
“We see that we can renew ourselves and rebuild, and it can be better.”
Many church members are trying to stay positive despite the setback, building committee chairwoman Karen Washington said.
“When you think about it and pray about it, and get that revelation and think, it could have been worse,” she said. “It doesn’t take you long to get your spirits up if you know God at all.”
Services this Sunday will be at First United Methodist Church, 400 W. Seventh Ave., with Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. and church at 11 a.m.
“After that, we’re going to go down to the old church and pray and have communion,” Washington said.
No one was injured when the fire occurred about 10:15 Tuesday morning. Firefighters believe sparks from a power tool probably caused the accident.
“Everybody’s just thankful that no body was hurt, and everyone is thankful because it could have been worse,” Washington said.
The fire damaged the pastor’s office and the electrical system, which may take months to reinstate.
The sanctuary sustained smoke damage, but the new addition was not damaged.
Church members are hoping to find a permanent location to hold service, Washington said, and members of First United Methodist Church has been helpful.
“They’re willing to support us on more of those. This week has been great. They’ve really stepped up,” Washington said. “The community and all the churches, we’ve had quite a bit of support for it.”
She said the church hasn’t canceled any activities, including Vacation Bible School, and she hopes they will be able to do them all.
“Our goal is to keep working and doing what we do, and we know he’ll take care of the rest,” she said. “I feel like the community has been very supportive ... and we really do appreciate it.”
The church building may not be operational for a few months because the electricity is down, and Washington said it has to go through a lot inspections and steps involving a number of crews.
Miller was in Los Angeles at a national conference at the time of the fire. He said he grabbed his shoes and started to run out the door before he realized he was 2,000 miles away. He recalled Friday how he felt before he said God intervened.
“(I was) sitting there with tears in my eyes, praying and everything,” he said. “I switched and just starting thanking God.”
He said Stillwater Fire Department should get credit and thanks for the work firefighters did.
“We’re just very thankful for the community and the fire department in Stillwater. They did a great job,” Miller said.
“It’s nothing that’s not fixable.”
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