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 thats
what makes a church.
Yes, its a charming old building, said Staff
Pastor Parish Relations Chair Carolyn Huber after the service, but its 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 arent certain what caused it.
They do know it began around 6:30 p.m. that Friday while the
churchs 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 its 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 theyre pulling together, Green said.
I think we have a better understanding of who we are as a body of Christ. Well
come out of this stronger.
Hublers 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, shes looking at if from another perspective.
Its sad the buildings gone, she said, but were 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. Im 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.
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