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It didn’t take long for the blaze to continue onto the roof of the sanctuary and once there, within an hour, it was destroyed. In the end, those 28 foot pine timbers were the last thing to go. In fact, about half of them are still standing, although charred and blackened. The bell tower and the white cross with those blue neon lights that could be seen for miles around at night made it through once another fire as if to say “Is that the best you’ve got Satan, I’m not going anywhere!” But sadly, even though the fire did not engulf the towering pillar, as it did the first time, it did severely damage it probably beyond repair and will have to come down. A day I’m dreading to see come. For you see, to us we didn’t just lose a building, we lost a friend, an identity that most churches don’t have, a landmark that people come from miles to see. They know of “The Church on the Hill,” and they can’t believe their eyes either. A colleague at work said, “I stopped and tried to get into that building several times because I just knew it had to be beautiful inside, but it was always locked. I can’t believe it’s gone.” He was right, it was absolutely beautiful. Our Pastor stated it this way, “When Denise (his wife) and I first saw inside, it took our breath away.” Another member said, “I want my wooden beams back.” The layout was in the shape of the cross, always pointing our hearts to the Savior that died for us so many years ago, and that’s exactly where it’s still pointing to today.
Never again will my friends and I crawl under those pews during senior choir practice only to get into trouble, or play hide and seek in its balcony, or practice for a Christmas play. It’s where my father was confirmed, my parents were married, my brother and I were baptized and confirmed, my wife and I were married, and our three children baptized as well. A mere building doesn’t go through all these things with you, a friend does. But most importantly, it’s where I learned about the Savior that mends all cuts, heals all wounds, and saves all lives that turn to Him in faith.
As I prepare to go to this first worship service after the fire today, I can’t help but think about all our friends out there cleaning up yesterday, setting up our gym for a temporary sanctuary and talking about how fast we can rebuild it and how big and beautiful it’s going to be. As I wipe away my tears while writing this, it’s fitting today that it’s raining, tears from Heaven will mix well with our own. Our friend is gone, she’s fought the good fight and she’s at rest now. It’s time to move on and move on we must do. We will do. Our forefathers wouldn’t want it any other way. As with the first fire, we have a very strong leader in Pastor Johnson. Together we’ll make it through just as they did and come out of this stronger than ever. The cause of the fire is unexplained, just like the other one was. But we know who the culprit is. Is that the best you’ve got Satan? Because, we’re still here and we’re not going anywhere! Goodbye old friend. They say that Heaven is more beautiful than you can imagine and all that a person would ever want. Who knows, maybe we’ll see each other again someday, because you’ve got to be up there with the best that Heaven’s got to offer.
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