WBIR     

Last Updated: 10/7/2009 11:16:50 PM 

10/7/2009 10:51:25 PM

A church congregation already divided, is facing a new challenge.

Members of the Edwards Community Missionary Baptist Church learned Saturday morning, that their church building that had stood for 70 years, was no more. It had been destroyed by fire. A fire that investigators say is suspicious.

On Wednesday night, congregants met to worship in a member's garage. They couldn't help but remember what had happened a week before.

"On Wednesday, it all just broke loose," said church member David Lovin.

An argument over who should lead the church, actually turned to blows.

"Thats God's house, it's no place to throw fists, or shoot people, or talk about shooting people, it's for blessing the Lord," said the church's pastor, Rev. Clayborn Gibbons.

Three days later, the church building was gone.

The Volunteer fire department rushed to the burning church around 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

"I couldn't believe it. I knew there was trouble there, but I didn't think the church would burn," said Rev. Gibbons

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

"When I heard that the church burned, it just broke my heart, cause you know that's where my heart was, Lord sent me down there for a reason, and that's where my heart was," said Lovin.

Now, the faithful are trying to move on, holding services wherever they can. They say one thing is for certain. They will keep praising, and are sure God will provide.

"I hope we can get us a church, that's what I'm hoping for. We will look around, stay here as long as Mike will let us, and we will try to get something somewhere else later on," said Gibbons.

 

 LINK TO VIDEO and PHOTO OF CHURCH:

 http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=101331