Local Church Struggles to Stay Together After Fire
By: Alisha Culbertson
Updated: January 31, 2013
JOPLIN, MO---
"There was just peace and that's the theme that we've been talking about a lot is that throughout that whole thing we've just had peace that was indescribable", says Church Pastor Josh Evans.
His church was connected to a vacant building on Main Street in Joplin. That building caught fire on December 18th, leaving church members to turn to each other for support.
"We've really seen through this tragedy that we really have created a community of people that really is a family", says Pastor Evans.
One of the church's primary missions is to minister to the youth, and members say being away from the kids is the hardest part of the tragedy to deal with.
"We don't want to be away from the kids too long. We are a family and we care about them and we are missing them", says Pastor Evans.
Pastor Josh Evans says he is grateful that nobody was hurt, and thankful for the outpouring of support the community has shown.
Church members say even though they are left without a place to worship, their mission will continue on.
"Life throws you curveballs sometimes that you don't expect. This was one of those. We're ready to do whatever God has called us to do that whether we have the right facilites or not."
"There was just peace and that's the theme that we've been talking about a lot is that throughout that whole thing we've just had peace that was indescribable", says Church Pastor Josh Evans.
His church was connected to a vacant building on Main Street in Joplin. That building caught fire on December 18th, leaving church members to turn to each other for support.
"We've really seen through this tragedy that we really have created a community of people that really is a family", says Pastor Evans.
One of the church's primary missions is to minister to the youth, and members say being away from the kids is the hardest part of the tragedy to deal with.
"We don't want to be away from the kids too long. We are a family and we care about them and we are missing them", says Pastor Evans.
Pastor Josh Evans says he is grateful that nobody was hurt, and thankful for the outpouring of support the community has shown.
Church members say even though they are left without a place to worship, their mission will continue on.
"Life throws you curveballs sometimes that you don't expect. This was one of those. We're ready to do whatever God has called us to do that whether we have the right facilites or not."
