Devastating Fire Results In Unique Church-With-Church Partnership
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DALLAS (CBS 11 NEWS) - A North Texas church leveled by fire last week has formed a unique partnership with a neighboring congregation.
Last Friday, as his church was razed, Kenneth Andrews Sr. didn't know what his congregation, at the Deliverance Missionary Baptist Church in east Oak Cliff, was going to do. But what a difference a week makes.
"We're still in the neighborhood from where we worship," Andrews told CBS 11 News.
That will be side-by-side with Pastor Vincent Davis' flock at the Exciting Greater New St. John Primitive Baptist Church, about three miles away.
"And he's a good guy," Andrews said the New St. John's Pastor. "I just did a revival for him, so I know this is a hot place to have a Holy Ghost time with the Lord."
Frequently churches will offer worship space to fellow congregations in need, just at a different time from their own services. But these two will merge their services into one. "Our choirs will sing together," Andrews explained, "our ushers will serve together, and he asked me -- yours truly -- to do the sermon."
But according to Davis, the two churches will have their own collection plates. "When the offertory period comes they'll have a table so they can still experience their financial experiences." That way Andrews' flock can begin saving for a new church.
New St. John isn't even asking for help in offsetting utilities. Dr. Davis figures his congregation would be worshiping at the church anyway. He downplays any denominational differences. "When it's all said and done there's not going to be a particular denomination in heaven. You're God's child, you're going to be there."
Back at Deliverance Missionary, Janice Broughton told CBS 11 her fellow members are happy to have somewhere to worship...for a time. "It's good to have a new place to go to worship, but it's nothing like being able to worship in your own church."
And Broughton wants to rebuild so her church can continue its mission to feed local homeless. "We won't be able to do [help/feed] the people in this community, because the people in this community [were close enough to the church to] walk down here to where we feed the people," she said.
Pastor Andrews has an idea what rebuilding will take. "A lot of prayer, a lot of faith, and probably a lot of money," he said.
The two pastors will alternate preaching sermons from week-to-week.
Pastor Andrews says his teaching this Sunday will be topical. "It's going to be something pertaining about trouble -- maybe in the Book of Job -- that trouble doesn't last always."
Unfortunately, Deliverance Missionary Baptist Church had no insurance. Anyone interested in helping the church can reach Kenneth Andrews at 972.743.5296.
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