A Tennessee congregation is standing tall after wildfires destroy their building.
The deadly wildfire that tore through Gatlinburg early last week destroyed the building where the Roaring Fork Baptist Church meets. While their lives were spared, about a half-dozen members lost their homes, and others are waiting to find out if they’ve lost their jobs.
Despite the catastrophic loss, the heartbroken congregation rose to its feet Sunday morning and praised God just as they had on countless Sunday mornings before the fire. Rain hit the roof of their new, but temporary home at a Christian summer camp northeast of the tourist town as the Rev. Kim McCroskey vowed to continue their vibrant ministry.
Roaring Fork Baptist was one of a handful of Gatlinburg churches charred the night of November 28 when hurricane-force winds fanned a small fire in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into an inferno that killed at least 14 people, scorched nearly 18,000 acres, and damaged or destroyed more than 1,600 homes and businesses.
The congregation, which numbers about 200 for weekend services, was only homeless for about 12 hours. The Sevier County Association of Baptists invited them to worship at Camp Smoky, the association’s Christian retreat center about a six-mile drive from the Roaring Fork neighborhood.
McCroskey told the congregation, “We’re God’s church. Fire couldn’t take that away. Fire can’t take our resolve away. I’m weak in the knees and overwhelmed with grief about what’s happened, but I’m also overwhelmed with joy about seeing all of you here today.”