Fire swept through the attic of a Georgia church during Sunday worship, forcing more than 80 people to evacuate. Now, facing severe damage and an uncertain search for worship space, the congregation is thanking God that everyone survived.
“Structures can be replaced, but lives cannot. God protected His people today!” fundraising organizers for Christ Apostolic Church International in Mableton wrote on the church’s GoFundMe page.
The emergency began when members spotted smoke coming from the roof and raised the alarm, according to WSB-TV. As the fire spread from the back of the building toward the front, church elders helped get the children out first, followed by the rest of the congregation.
Every person made it out safely. No one was injured.
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The congregation now faces the work of recovering from a fire that interrupted its worship and left its building severely damaged. The church has no electricity, and leaders are working with Georgia Power to restore service, WSB-TV reported.
The Rev. Frederick Appiah said the congregation could need a temporary place to worship. Through that uncertainty, he expressed confidence in God.
“God Knows best. We are hoping on God to see us through these trying times,” Appiah told WSB-TV.
The church has launched a $50,000 fundraising campaign to help cover cleanup, structural repairs and replacement of damaged items. Funds will also help secure a temporary gathering place so the congregation can continue meeting.
Organizers acknowledged their heartache over the damage while praising God that the congregation and first responders escaped injury. They emphasized that the church’s identity rests in the faith and love of its community and expressed determination to restore the sanctuary.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
