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Thankful 'for letting us come back'

Members of Grace Presbyterian Church are officially marking its reopening after a fire nearly destroyed it in 2004.

By ANNE LINDBERG
Published September 18, 2005

PINELLAS PARK - As they viewed their fire-gutted church a year and a half ago, congregation members believed God had protected the building from worse damage.

Today, they will celebrate their return to the building. They also will celebrate God's goodness in helping them recover from the March 2004 fire that kept them out of the building for almost a year.

"We're thanking the Lord for letting us come back," said the Rev. Bob Burridge, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church, 10991 58th St. N.

There will be a special program at 9:30 a.m. to rejoice and introduce Sunday school goals and new topics. At 10:45 aa.m., the morning worship will center on the church theme for the upcoming year of ministries. Refreshments will then be served.

A 6 p.m. evening worship service will include prayer for special needs, a time of hymn singing and a lesson from the Bible about the practicality of knowing God better in our lives.

Burridge said community members from Pinellas Park and elsewhere are welcome at all the services.

Although the church reconstruction was completed several months ago, the congregation delayed the official celebration until other projects, such as a new playground, could be completed. Today also marks the start of Grace's ministry year, the first since the congregation was able to return to the church.

All in all, Burridge said, the day seemed perfect for celebrating new starts in the church's life.

The fire that gutted the front half of the building apparently began in the southwest corner of Burridge's study next to a set of bookcases. Burridge said fire and insurance investigators think the fire was sparked by old wiring from a space heater.

"Once it got going, it went wild," Burridge said.

The fire consumed most of Burridge's study and his books before working its way through the sanctuary and into the roof. As the first smoke began escaping, a Pinellas Park fire truck happened to pass.

Erick DeSpirt, one of the firefighters who were on their way to vote in a city election, was staring out the window and saw and smelled smoke from the church roof. The engine turned around and arrived at the same time as church member Jim Wisler, who had come to clean for the Sunday service.

As Wisler opened the door, smoke billowed out, and firefighters called for backup. The fire was out 40 minutes after the truck turned into the church yard.

Thus began the rebuilding process, which was complicated by the need to bring the building up to code. That meant new wiring and new windows as well as replacing the portion of the building that had been lost, Burridge said. The congregation took the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art digital sound system.

"Now our big goal is to find out how to use it best," Burridge said.

The church was able to save its altar, baptismal font, lectern and cross that had been handmade by a congregation member.

The congregation, which usually ranges from 40-50 on a Sunday, was able to return to the building at the end of November last year.

"Just getting back in it was step one," Burridge said.

Although the church building was out of commission for a while, the church itself remained active through its Internet ministry, the Genevan Institute for Reformed Studies, at www.girs.com

The site contains a curriculum that seeks to explain the church's teachings to new believers and others.

"It just developed into a good Internet ministry," Burridge said. "It's getting thousands of hits every day. It's a very active site worldwide. We're very pleased."

Returning e-mails and updating the Web site keeps Burridge busy. But it also meant the loss of his library in the fire was not as devastating as it would have been in pre-electronic times. Much of what he needs, Burridge said, is on the Internet rather than in books.

[Last modified September 18, 2005, 02:15:36]