Church damaged by fire
On Wed., Oct. 14, a fire damaged St. John, Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. No one was in the building when the fire started. However, this was the second church in Wetaskiwin to catch fire within 24 hours, so area police are labeling the fire "suspicious" and investigating the cause of the blaze.
The fire appears to have started in St. John's cryroom. That room is completely destroyed. The heat of the fire then melted the light fixtures within the sanctuary, causing more fires to begin. These secondary fires damaged the church organ and lectern. Three support beams in the entryway of the church are charred and as a result the building may be destroyed rather than repaired.
Rev. Daniel Habben, who serves part time at St. John, says, "Even though we are unsure what the future of the building may be, members are committed to continuing to gather together."
The congregation met for a Sunday worship service at a local senior citizens' center on Oct. 18. Habben encouraged members to share their reactions to the fire and then led members in singing their favorite hymns and in a short devotion.
