By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
Though the wildfires that swept through the Tennessee community Nov. 28 destroyed or damaged three Baptist churches, leaders are not discouraged.
Of the three churches affected by the fire, Roaring Fork Baptist, Gatlinburg, was destroyed, losing its sanctuary and all of its other buildings. Pastor Kim McCroskey noted that while the buildings are gone, the Church (the people) remains.
“We’re hopeful. We will persevere and we will rise out of the ashes,” he predicted. “For whatever reason God let it happen. We’ll rebuild and will be better than ever for His glory.”
The pastor noted that at least six people in his church lost homes in the fire.
Until they are able to rebuild, Roaring Fork will meet at Camp Smoky, owned by Sevier County Association of Baptists. As an example of how the association’s churches are pulling together, members of Millican Grove Baptist Church, Sevierville, were at the camp Nov. 30, cleaning the building that Roaring Fork will use, said Robert Nichols, director of missions for the association. “Tragedies bring people together,” Nichols said.
Request for prayer
First Baptist Church, Gatlinburg, lost its youth building and about a dozen members lost their homes, including Gatlinburg mayor Mike Werner and city manager Cindy Ogle.
Pastor Larry Burcham asked for prayers for the situation. “Prayers are vitally important,” he said. “That’s what we need more than anything right now.”
In a later interview with Baptist Press (BP), Burcham noted the “people here are very tenacious and they’re obviously in touch with reality enough that this hurts and it’s discouraging. But yet they believe God’s still with us as well, walking with us through this situation.”
Variety of assistance offered
Wes Jones, Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) specialist, was able to present checks to McCroskey and Burcham on behalf of TBDR to help them in the short term. Help also will be provided to Banner Baptist Church as well. Jones and others went to the church that lost its fellowship hall and sustained some damage to its other two buildings, but were unable to connect with the pastor or other church leaders.
National Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) and the WMU Foundation have awarded a $5,000 grant from the HEART (Humanitarian Emergency Aid for Rebuilding Tomorrow) Fund to help area ministries aid victims.
The grant, to be dispersed through Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries and Sevier County Associational WMU, will help meet the immediate physical needs of local residents who lost their homes.
Tennessee WMU groups have been collecting donated items for those affected by the fires, but the grant will offer the opportunity for ministries in the area to carry gift cards and give them out on the spot as needed, said Vickie Anderson, executive director of Tennessee WMU. “It provides a very tangible way that we can help.”
The WMU Foundation is accepting donations to the HEART Fund for disaster relief survivors online at wmufoundation.com or by mail to WMU Foundation HEART Fund, 100 Missionary Ridge, Birmingham, AL 35242. (TAB contributed)
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