ROCHELLE, Texas — Rochelle Baptist Church's sanctuary building caught fire early Thursday morning, resulting in a total loss.
"We all live in hard times, so we're expecting the Lord to do just what he always does and just be with us and guide us through this process," Pastor Morris Johnson said.
Johnson, who celebrated his five-year anniversary with the church earlier this spring, was on vacation when he started receiving messages at about 2 a.m. Thursday.
The fire first broke out in early morning and the Rochelle Volunteer Fire Department arrived within minutes, according to Johnson.
He said the RVFD did a great job at putting out the fire and it took about four hours until the flames were contained.
The fellowship hall building, directly next to the church, remains intact and service will be held as usual Sunday morning.
Johnson also commented on the outpouring support not only from Rochelle, but from all across West Texas.
"Several other churches have offered to let us use their facilities, the local funeral home has offered us their chapel for as long as we need it," he said. "It's just been outstanding."
The church is planning a prayer meeting Thursday night to support one another, and Johnson wants to say a personal thank you to the RVFD and everyone else who has reached out during this time.
According to Johnson, this is second time the church has been destroyed at the location. He said in 1963, the building was struck by lightning and burned to the ground.
"We all said that sometimes we're often cast down and crushed and perplexed, but we don't give up and we're not going to," he said. "'Because God is bigger than this, and we're excited about that."