FL Review Online

General Board of Global Ministries

UM Information

UM Reporter

Employment

Archives

Favorite Places

Florida Southern College

 
Bethune Cookman College

 
FL UM Children's Home






January 8, 1999

Edition


Fire destroys building,
not the church

Photo by Tita Parham  

Members of DeLeon Springs UMC share memories of times spent in their church during a memorial service Sunday Morning on the grounds of the 85-year-old church, just days after a fire gutted the building.    

By Tita Parham

DELEON SPRINGS — “I am the church; you are the church; we are the church together…”

That hymn has become the theme song for DeLeon Springs United Methodist Church, says member Gail Hubler. But in the two days since a Dec. 18 fire destroyed the 85-year-old New England-style, wood church, those words have taken on even greater significance.

At the first worship service Sunday following the fire, church members said the building may be gone, but the people are still there, and that’s what makes a church.

“Yes, it’s a charming old building,” said Staff Pastor Parish Relations Chair Carolyn Huber after the service, “but it’s not the church. The people are the church.”

State and county fire inspectors are investigating the fire, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation because of the recent rash of church burnings across the country, but they aren’t certain what caused it.

They do know it began around 6:30 p.m. that Friday while the church’s pastor, the Rev. Martin Green, and his wife, Sheila, were holding an open house for church members at the parsonage off church property. Members Ed and Collette Wallace were passing the church on the way to the open house and saw the fire. Ed Wallace said he had a hard time convincing people there that the church really was on fire.

Greens says it’s ironic the church was destroyed, since there is a fire station across the street. But with no fire hydrants in DeLeon Springs, there was little firefighters could do. Green said six or seven trucks had to pump water from five miles away. By the time firefighters were able to get a high enough powered pump to the church, it was too late to save it.

No damage estimates have been given, but Green says the building was appraised at about $200,000. Insurance will cover the damage, and a $50,000 check to take care of initial expenses is already on the way.

Green says members are in shock, but dealing with the situation reasonably well. “I really feel they’re pulling together,” Green said. “I think we have a better understanding of who we are as a body of Christ. We’ll come out of this stronger.”

Hubler’s 20-year-old daughter Devan North was hoping her baby, due in January, would grow up in that church as she and two generations of her family before her did. But, like many members, she’s looking at if from another perspective. “It’s sad the building’s gone,” she said, “but we’re all here.”

And members are already moving on and doing what they had planned, beginning with that Sunday worship service, what Green called an Easter-Christmas service. Members gathered on the church property near the charred, hollowed out church, to share memories during a short memorial service. With tears and smiles, people talked about baptisms and marriages, friends they had grown up with, Christmas pageants and candlelight services.

When Green asked what they feared, many said, “Nothing!” When he asked what they dreamed for, someone shouted, “Enough water to put out fires.” Many members were able to laugh at the comment, despite their recent loss.

The remainder of the service focused on Christmas and was held in the fellowship hall at the Baptist church across the street.

Green says he is heartened by the outpouring of support from the community. People have stopped by to donate money and replacement items. Groups like the Baptist church, the First Assembly of DeLand and a local pest control company have offered their facilities for services and church activities.

Members of the Florida Conference also offered their assistance. Bishop Cornelius L. Henderson promised monetary support, and DeLand District Superintendent Mont Duncan and conference Risk Manager Jim Severance were on the scene the morning after the fire.

“Connectionally, the United Methodist church is really taking care of us,” Green said. “I’m beginning to appreciate the connectional system more and more every day.”

Green says he is not sure what the next step will be. For nearly seven years members have been conducting a building campaign. They have already purchased 10.8 acres of land and built a new parsonage there. “The biggest question is what building to build next. This may change our priorities,” Green said.

Hubler, Huber and Collette Wallace all agree that the fire happened for a reason. “I see it as a springboard into the future,” Huber said. “I believe God allows things to happen sometimes, and only good things can come out of it.”


Top of this page

© 1999 Florida United Methodist Review Online