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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodists together |
October 2006 |
Members watch as fire destroys Mishawaka church
By Tom Moor
Tribune Staff Writer
MISHAWAKA, Ind. - Pam Waidner was married at Albright United Methodist Church, she taught Sunday school and worshipped there.
On Monday night, Oct. 2, Waidner was one of the church's parishioners who joined a large circle to pray as the church she attended since she was a little girl partially burnt to the ground about 200 feet behind her.
"This is breaking my heart," she said. "It's really painful."
Mishawaka Fire Chief Dale Freeman said a lightning strike hit the church on the corner of Mishawaka Avenue and Charlotte Street - across from Battell Park - about 5:45 p.m. Monday during a thunderstorm.
The strike caused a chain reaction that left most of the sanctuary portion of the church at 504 W. Mishawaka Ave. charred and burnt.
Firefighters worked late into the night containing the frightening blaze. Flames shot up about 30 feet high from the top of the church as black smoke lifted hundreds of feet into the air.
There were a few people in the church when the lightning struck, but no injuries were reported, Freeman said. He said the fire is still under investigation.
"When we first arrived we got into an offensive mode to try and save the church," Freeman said. "But when we saw we couldn't save it, we switched over to a defensive effort to try and limit the damage.
"I'm proud of my guys."
Freeman said firefighters likely will be at the site making sure the fire doesn't spark back up again. Flames could still be seen at 9 p.m., more than three hours after it was hit by the lightning.
"This is one of the largest fires I've seen in a long time," he said.
Freeman said the church will likely be a total loss.
Hundreds of neighborhood residents and parishioners lined the streets close to the church and watched with amazement and horror.
Some took pictures, others hugged those close to them and some, like Waidner, cried.
Associate pastor Warren Kirkwood said the church will rally.
"We're a very tight-knit group here," said Kirkwood, who assists senior pastor Dennis Ingle. "The spirit of the church is its people. We'll make it through this, and hopefully, come out of it even stronger."
Kirkwood said the congregation prides itself on community work. He talked about how the church is active in food drives and offers pre-school school, Bible study and counseling classes.
He said the 240-member congregation was established in 1848. He wasn't sure when it moved into the current site on Mishawaka Avenue, but Waidner said it might have been as far back as the 1930s.
"People want to get married here because the sanctuary is so beautiful," Kirkwood said.
Kirkwood was impressed with how many people came out to lend their emotional support.
"So many neighbors have come out here," he said. "They're giving us hugs, and many of them don't even attend church here. I'm touched by that."
Waidner also tried to look on the bright side.
"We'll rally," she said. "If we have a gym, we'll have a service. The church is just a building.
"Out of the rubble, you hope that beautiful things will happen. You have to believe that."
Tom Moor serves a staff writier for the South Bend Tribune. Reprinted by permission from the South Bend Tribune © 2006.
Last updated on 25 Apr 2008