Christians in a small Texas town are celebrating the survival of a sacred cross that survived a fire that destroyed the church where it was constructed.
On Friday, June 17, a fire destroyed the Balsora Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Texas.
The source of the fire is still unknown, but it was severe enough to cause the church’s roof to fall while firemen battled the flames inside.
‘A devastating loss to our community, but a sight to behold,’ the Wise County volunteer fire company wrote on Facebook.
‘The fire took the structure, but not the cross.
‘A symbol that the building was just that, a building. The Church is the congregation, and where 2 or more gather, there he shall be also.’
The fire department says the fire was started by the severe heat in the area, which reached above 100 degrees Fahrenheit last week.
‘A huge thank you to mutual aid, once again.
‘Extreme temperatures are beyond taxing to resources and manpower in events like these.
‘Churches also pose an inherent danger related to the great span of the sanctuaries and great halls, which makes them very prone to collapse.’
The firefighters who were injured were treated at local hospitals and all are expected to recover.
The church held a prayer gathering on Sunday.
On Facebook, the congregation celebrated the cross still being in tact.
‘The Cross that held our prayer request in the sanctuary, was still standing!
‘We praise God that He still answers prayers. We look forward to all He’s going to do at Balsora Baptist!!!’ church leaders said.