Fire May Have Destroyed Homeland Church But Not The Spirit Of Those Seeking Services
HOMELAND (CBSLA.com) — A fire might have destroyed the church but not the spirit of those seeking services.
The church -- located on Highway 74 in Homeland -- went up in flames last week but that didn't stop the congregation Sunday.
CBS's Greg Mills says the congregation of Community First Church of God didn't even go far. They put up a tent on church grounds.
Mills says all the regulars showed up, too. Like 91-year-old Bob Adkisson.
"Lost my wife 2-and-a-half years ago, been in the Church of God all our life, both of us,"
Even a week later, images of the loss the fire caused still upsets Pastor Mike Gratzke.
"I was pretty devastated when I stepped on the property last Saturday and saw what I saw," Gratzke says.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and fire investigators told the pastor the fire was not started by an arsonist.
Than an estimator old him something else.
"He said find a tent and make it your home and plan on being there for the next two to three years," Gratzke said.
Volunteers cleared what used to be the parking lot and set up a tent.
The pastor and congregation have resigned themselves to the fact this will be church for the next several years. And they're taking it in stride.
"It's not my first time worshiping the Lord in a tent," said Leona Tarver.
"It's just like a big old tent revival," said Ray Jordan.
Mills said the tent was rocking Sunday morning during the usual 10 a.m. service.
"The church is still here, whether the building is down or not," said Olivia Jordan.
Remarkably, reported Mills, the only thing that survived the fire intact was a cross -- made out of wood, no less. It was charred and singed but it survived.
"I watched the roof collapse where the cross was," said Gratzke, "and that cross was not moved and you can see it's hardly burned. Incredible. It's just incredible."
