Posted on 06/16/2004 3:50:03 PM PDT by Theodore R.
Brownfield church loses precious links to past in fire BY P. CHRISTINE SMITH AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
A day after a raging fire destroyed the Brownfield church that many called their second home, a small group gathered to watch firefighters try to knock down a smoldering resurgence of the blaze before it got worse.
The 54-year-old Brownfield Church of Christ building at 502 Lubbock Hwy. is a mere shell of its former self, but it is the loss of fragments of the past that so many mourn.
"We had a lot of history in the library," said Debra Graham, the church's building and grounds keeper.
That history included tapes of every sermon a now-retired pastor delivered in his 25 years at the church, Graham said, as well as every printed Sunday service bulletin, placed into bindings, that had ever been printed.
Most difficult for many is the realization that a place tied to so many memories of life-changing events — baptisms, weddings, funerals — is now gone forever, said the Rev. Derek McNamara. He is looking for ways to preserve those memories, he said, such as a photo and memorabilia collection that will eventually go on display in a new church building.
Brenda Howard, the church's secretary and a life-long congregation member, was moved to tears as she spoke of her memories of the building.
"When I was a little girl, my mother was baptized in this church when I was 8," Howard said. "My kids were all baptized in this church. My husband was baptized in that church. My dad was the last one (of my family) baptized in that church a few years ago.
"It's not our church that's burning," Howard said. "It's our memories that're burning."
Howard was comforted by her friend and fellow congregation member Deaun Cloe.
"We've still got our memories and we'll make it," Cloe said.
Cloe, who has taught Sunday school to toddlers for 36 years at the church, has been a lifelong member of the congregation. Her parents were members before they adopted her as a newborn.
"The whole congregation gave them a baby shower. They were so thrilled," Cloe said.
The two women stood in a sun-baked parking lot across the street from the building as they reminisced about their years of teaching Bible study classes to young children. Another friend and congregation member, Judy Edgar, crossed the fire department tape that cordoned off the scene to discover the first bit of good news.
"It's the World Church files," Edgar called to Howard as a firefighter carried out a file drawer.
Howard explained that the World Church program connects the local congregation with ministers throughout the world. The undamaged files contain contact information for each of them.
Plans are already afloat to keep church activities going. A fellowship hall, across the street from the burned-out main building, is quickly becoming a suite of offices and a gathering place for Wednes day and Sunday services. Services are scheduled to resume immediately, Howard said.
"This is a great congregation," McNamara said. "A church is people, not the building."
Numerous merchants have come forward to provide food, water and tables to church workers on the scene, Graham said.
Donations have poured in, including one in the amount of $3,000, McNamara said.
"It's going to bring us closer and stronger than ever," Howard said.
Meanwhile, state fire marshal investigators were on the scene, but an investigation into the cause of the blaze cannot begin until it is fully extinguished, an investigator said.
Damage to the structure is estimated at $1.5 million to $2 million.
When a new building is constructed, the cornerstone of the original building will be included, McNamara said.
"We may have been knocked down, but we're continuing," he said.
p.christine.smith@lubbockonline.com 766-8754
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