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and baptistry ureas in the sanctuary ;uicl fellowship hull in the rear of the sanctuary.
Only smoke Lind water d:unagi* was evident in the office wing oast of !?'<.> 1 lowship Mali.
The church office was relocated in the Youth Building at rear of the main building.
On May 22, a congregation of about 175 met for a Stand-up Worship service. Dr. Dodson had presented a motion from the Deacons the week before to give five hundred dollars to Robinson Chapel Church of God in Christ, a Church for blacks, which had been destroyed by a tornado several weeks earlier. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. The Pastor, Nathan L. Barber, reminded the congregation that "Fire can either
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destroy or refine" and challenged refinement. It was announced that in the interim we would meet for Sunday School in the Christ Episcopal School and worship at 11:15 in that church's sanctuary. Night services were to be held in Virginia Hall, also at Christ Episcopal.
Within fifteen months after the fire $3,070.25 had been given by people outside our church family telling us that people were thinking and praying for us. It was most meaningful. The minutes reveal that a contribution of $62.50 from the One to Four Grade Sunday School Dept, of Glenallen Baptist Church in Alaska was received.
This is the church where our former members, the James Fillingames, live.
In July a Comprehensive Planning Comni Ltee canjxxsed of fourteen members was appointed. After several meetings of the church in open forum the corrmittee presented three options to the church ? (1) Rebuild as was (2) Rebuild with minor renovations (3) Renovate existing sanctuary and build a new one in near future. On August 14, 1977 when presented to the church by Perry Gibson, Chairman of the Deacons, the second option was approved unanimously. The insurance settlement figure was $173,502.23. It was proposed that the bid of Hopkins Construction Co. of Gulfport for $162,968.00 be accepted with the alloted time of one hundred fifty days. Fred Wagner, Architect, was to supervise work during construction and work with the Building Corrmittee on any changes made in the building.
During this year in August our church co-sponsored Vacation Bible School with
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