Fire Not Enough To Keep Worshipers From Celebrating Palm Sunday Service In Delco
DARBY, Pa. (CBS) -- Fire may have changed a local congregation's Palm Sunday plans, but it didn't damage their spirits.
Ever Abundant Life Church in Darby Borough, Delaware County brought Palm Sunday to the gym. A block away, there isn't anyone in the church, left with smoke and water damage from a fire on Saturday. As a result, Darby officials decided to open up the Rec center for this congregation.
"The building is marked as "unsuitable" right now," said Pastor Alexander Thompson. "The church is not the building anyway. The church is the body of believers, and so the body of believers that's tied to Ever Abundant Life are still going to worship together."
Thompson says the church building isn't as badly damaged as the daycare connected to it, but opening back up in time for Easter is still an uncertainty.
But Gene, who organizes church ushers and security, says their faith is all that matters.
"We would have had church anywhere, so if we had to do it in the parking lot it would have happened," he said. "But it was going to happen regardless. There was nothing that would have stopped us. The devil is not going to have his way."
Darby's City Council President Janice David says children usually play basketball at the gym on Sunday mornings, but they'll do so in the afternoon, so these worshipers have a space to pray together.
