GATLINBURG, Tenn. — The deadly wildfire hit Banner Baptist Church hard.
It wiped out the fellowship hall, destroyed the homes of seven church members and left behind anxiety and heartbreak. The blaze even destroyed the gifts they planned to give at their 40th annual holiday party for adults with disabilities.
But the small mountain congregation refused to let the historic fire extinguish four decades of Christmas ministry.
“When that fire hit, that was the first thing several of the folks at our church were concerned about — whether or not we could still have that party,” said the Rev. Pete Lamon, pastor of Banner Baptist. “It’s just a tradition for us and it means so much to us and not being able to have it I think would have clearly ruined our Christmas.”
So about two weeks after the Nov. 28 wildfire swept through the Great Smoky Mountains tourist town, Lamon and his wife, Stella Lamon, donned Santa hats and helped throw a Christmas party for about 150 Douglas Cooperative clients and caregivers from across four counties.
The fire that killed 14 people, burned more than 2,400 structures and left the community reeling just as the joyful Christmas season was beginning was front of mind for many in the banquet room at the River Terrace Resort and Convention Center. But they were thankful to be together celebrating the season once again.
"We're all grateful to God that this event was spared," said Lamon, tearing up as he addressed the party. "You need to understand this is our Christmas at Banner Baptist Church. You make our Christmas and we thank you."
Giving back
Banner Baptist, located just north of the Gatlinburg city limits, is one of at least four churches significantly burned or decimated by the fire. Although they're on the casualty list, the congregations are focused on helping those in need, including their own, and continuing their Christmas outreach to the community.
"Christmas at its very foundation is about God reaching out to his creation, which was very much in need of what God sent Jesus to do and to be. What a natural time for us who have been reached out to by God to reach others in Jesus' name in the very same way," said the Rev. Larry Burcham, pastor of First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg.The church, which welcomes about 400 people to its weekend services, lost its youth ministry building in the fire, and 24 families in its congregation lost their homes. Others lost businesses, he said. But on Monday night they carried on a 17-year tradition and hosted the church's Meal for Many program, which serves anyone who wants to come. Hundreds enjoyed a holiday dinner, visits with Santa and took home presents and other needed items such as warm coats and food gift cards.
"We didn’t want to let a natural occurrence here stop us from doing what we think we need to do," Burcham said.
Giving back also can be healing, he said.
But they’re not doing it alone. The churches — Banner Baptist, First Baptist, Gatlinburg Church of Christ and Roaring Fork Baptist Church — have all received an outpouring of financial and emotional support from across the country. They’re passing on what in-kind and monetary donations they can to other fire victims.
“It’s just amazing how pain and tragedy pulls people together, and you have to attribute that to our faith,” Lamon said. “Faith that doesn’t work when times are hard is not worth much. It is the hard times that strengthens our faith and puts it into practice.”
'We love y'all'
Donations helped the Banner Baptist congregation, which numbers about 30, make possible the Christmas party for the non-profit that provides services for those with mental and physical disabilities. Once word that the Southern Baptist church's fellowship hall burned with the gifts inside, monetary and in-kind donations flowed in from as close as the next town over and from as far away as New York, said Linda Rawlings, the party organizer and longtime church member.Rawlings, who wore an “It’s all about Jesus” shirt to the Dec. 14 party, fled the flames that spared her home on Ski Mountain. As rumors flew in the immediate aftermath of the wildfire, Rawlings thought the party was in jeopardy until she received word the convention center was spared. For her, the party is the holiday.
“It’s Christmas,” said Rawlings, fighting back tears. “I was thinking this morning I can’t wait to hear them — the laughter.”
John Loyd, who works with Douglas Cooperative clients in Sevier County, Tenn., stepped in front of the microphone with a surprise for the Banner Baptist congregation. His clients wanted to give back to the church that had given them so much.
“This is the love that my folks have for you,” said Loyd, his voice cracking.
Ten of his clients, dressed in Christmas sweaters and festive hats, lined up beside the stage holding envelopes. Loyd asked the crowd to count along as he instructed each client to hand their envelopes to the pastor.
“That’s $1,000 that they raised,” Loyd said. “With all the hard work they did, they weren’t happy, so they allowed me to give one more. That makes 11."
"Banner Baptist, we love y'all,” he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment