A MEMORIAL SERVICE AT A LOCAL CHURCH THIS MORNING AFTER A MASSIVE FIRE MAY HAVE BROKEN THE BODY OF THE BUILDING, BUT NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE CONGREGATION. ON THE EVE OF PENTECOST SUNDAY, THE SYMBOL OF FIRE TOOK ON DEVASTATING NEW MEANING FOR SOLID ROCK CHURCH IN CENTER POINT. IT WAS LAST NIGHT ON THE EVE OF PENTECOST SUNDAY. OF ALL TIMES. WE HAVE A FIRE. A MASSIVE FIRE IN OUR CHURCH. BUT THE DEVIL IS A LIAR AND WE WEREN鈥橳 GOING TO LET HIM STOP US. THE FLAMES LEFT PARTS OF THE BUILDING UNSAFE, BUT NOT THE SPIRIT OF THE CONGREGATION. WE鈥橵E ALWAYS SAID OUR CHURCH IS A CHURCH ON FIRE. SO NOW WE KNOW. WE COULD LITERALLY SAY PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, WHAT STARTED AS HEARTBREAK TURNED INTO A POWERFUL OUTDOOR SERVICE. WORSHIPERS POURED IN. AND NOT JUST MEMBERS, BUT NEIGHBORS AND STRANGERS ALIKE. THE CHURCH IS STILL INTACT. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WE鈥橵E GOT SOME DAMAGE TO OUR CHURCH BUILDING, BUT MAN, THIS IS NOT OUR CHURCH. THIS IS OUR CHURCH BEHIND ME. DESPITE SMOKE DAMAGE AND THE LOSS OF KEY AREAS LIKE THE GYM AND OFFICES, THE SANCTUARY WAS SAVED. I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE FIRST RESPONDERS. THEY SHOWED UP IN FORCE. I鈥橵E NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THEY PROBABLY NOT. PROBABLY THEY DID SAVE THE REST OF THIS CHURCH. FOR MCMURRAY, FINDING HIS BIBLE UNHARMED FELT LIKE A SIGN. I THOUGHT THE WORD OF GOD IS INTACT, WHETHER IT WAS ON FIRE OR NOT. THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CELEBRATION OF THE CHURCH鈥橲 30TH YEAR. INSTEAD, IT BECAME A RENEWAL OF ITS PURPOSE. GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME. THAT鈥橲 NOT A CLICHE. WE LIVE BY THAT HERE. THAT鈥橲 WHAT WE DO. FROM ASHES TO ACTION. SOLID ROCK CHURCH IS PROVING YOU DON鈥橳 NEED WALLS TO BE A SANCTUARY. I鈥橫 OVERWHELMED. I鈥橫 JUST OVERWHELMED. I鈥橫. YOU鈥橰E TRYING TO MAKE ME CRY BECAUSE I GET EMOTIONAL. BECAUSE THIS IS. THIS IS THE BODY OF CHRIST. THIS IS THE FAMILY OF GOD. WHEN PEOPLE COME OUT TO SUPPORT US, SOME MOST OF THESE ARE OUR PEOPLE. BUT A LOT OF THESE ARE NOT OUR PEOPLE. PEOPLE THAT JUST COME OFF THE STREET, SAW IT ON THE NEWS, CAME OUT HERE, WANTED TO SUPPORT US. WE鈥橰E SO THANKFUL. IF YOU鈥橠 LIKE TO SUPPORT THEIR REBUILDING EFFORTS, YOU CAN GO
Solid Rock Church rises from fire with outdoor Pentecost service
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Updated: 6:24 AM CDT Jun 9, 2025
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On the eve of Pentecost Sunday, Solid Rock Church in Center Point was engulfed in a massive fire, but the congregation's spirit remained unbroken as they held a powerful outdoor service. Pastor Larry Ragland said, "Last night, we had a fire. A massive fire in our church. But the devil is a liar鈥攁nd we weren't going to let him stop us." >> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from 米兰体育 13Despite parts of the building being unsafe due to the flames, the spirit of the congregation remained unshaken. Ragland expressed, "We've always said our church is on fire鈥攏ow we can say it literally and spiritually." What began as heartbreak turned into a powerful outdoor service, attracting worshippers from the community, including members, neighbors, and strangers. Delane McCurry, dean of Solid Rock Bible College, emphasized the resilience of the church, saying, "The church is still intact. We got some damage to our church building, but, man, this is not our church - this is our church behind me." Although the fire caused smoke damage and destroyed key areas like the gym and offices, the sanctuary was saved.>> 米兰体育 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for freeRagland expressed gratitude, stating, "I do say, thanks to all of the first responders. They showed up in force. They saved the rest of this church." For McCurry, discovering his Bible unharmed felt like a sign. "I thought鈥攖he Word of God is intact, whether it was on fire or not," he said. Originally intended to celebrate the church's 30th anniversary, the event became a renewal of its purpose. Ragland affirmed, "God is good鈥攁ll the time. That's not a clich茅. We live by that here. That's what we do." Solid Rock Church demonstrates that a sanctuary does not require walls, as Ragland shared his emotional response to the community's support: "I'm overwhelmed... make me cry. I get emotional because this is the body of Christ. This is the family of God. When people come out to support us, most of these are our people, but a lot of these are not our people. People just come off the street, saw it on the news, came out here wanting to support us. We're so thankful.">> SHARE WITH US: Upload your photos and videos via uLocal
CENTER POINT, Ala. — On the eve of Pentecost Sunday, Solid Rock Church in Center Point was engulfed in a massive fire, but the congregation's spirit remained unbroken as they held a powerful outdoor service.
Pastor Larry Ragland said, "Last night, we had a fire. A massive fire in our church. But the devil is a liar鈥攁nd we weren't going to let him stop us."
>> YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD: Community coverage from 米兰体育 13
Despite parts of the building being unsafe due to the flames, the spirit of the congregation remained unshaken. Ragland expressed, "We've always said our church is on fire鈥攏ow we can say it literally and spiritually." What began as heartbreak turned into a powerful outdoor service, attracting worshippers from the community, including members, neighbors, and strangers.
Delane McCurry, dean of Solid Rock Bible College, emphasized the resilience of the church, saying, "The church is still intact. We got some damage to our church building, but, man, this is not our church - this is our church behind me."
Although the fire caused smoke damage and destroyed key areas like the gym and offices, the sanctuary was saved.
>> 米兰体育 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free
Ragland expressed gratitude, stating, "I do [want to] say, thanks to all of the first responders. They showed up in force. They saved the rest of this church." For McCurry, discovering his Bible unharmed felt like a sign. "I thought鈥攖he Word of God is intact, whether it was on fire or not," he said.
Originally intended to celebrate the church's 30th anniversary, the event became a renewal of its purpose. Ragland affirmed, "God is good鈥攁ll the time. That's not a clich茅. We live by that here. That's what we do."
Solid Rock Church demonstrates that a sanctuary does not require walls, as Ragland shared his emotional response to the community's support: "I'm overwhelmed...[you're trying to] make me cry. I get emotional because this is the body of Christ. This is the family of God. When people come out to support us, most of these are our people, but a lot of these are not our people. People just come off the street, saw it on the news, [and] came out here wanting to support us. We're so thankful."
>> SHARE WITH US: Upload your photos and videos via uLocal
