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On May 15,1977, the Church voted unanimously to renovate the sanctuary at a cost of SI 6,000. On May 16, 1977, in the early morning hours, the Church building was ravaged by fire. The greatest damage was found in the pulpit area, choir loft, some of baptistry areas in the sanctuary, and fellowship hall in the rear of the sanctuary. Only smoke and water damage was evident in the office wing, east of the Fellowship Hall. The church office was relocated in the Youth Building at the rear of the main building. On May 22, a congregation of about 175 met for a Stand-Up Worship service. Dr. M. L. Dodson had presented a motion from the Deacons the week before to give $500 to Robinson Chapel Church of God in Christ, a black church, which had been destroyed by a tornado several weeks earlier. The motion was approved by unanimous vote. Pastor Nathan L. Barber reminded the congregation that "Fire can either 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 15 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 own members, the James Fillingames, lived at that time.
In July 1977, a Comprehensive Planning Committee composed of fourteen members was appointed. After several meetings of the church in open forum, the committee presented three options to the church: (1) rebuild as was, (2) rebuild with minor renovations, or (3) renovate the existing sanctuary and build a new one in the 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 be accepted with the allotted time of 150 days. Fred Wagner, Architect, was to supervise work during construction and work with the Building Committee on any changes
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