The fire, which was reported shortly before 11 p.m. Monday, caused about $250,000 in damages. Rev. Chuck L. Betters, the church’s pastor, posted on Facebook that when he arrived at the church Monday, firefighters were cutting holes in the steeple to release the smoke.

A blaze that broke out inside the sanctuary of a Glasgow church Monday night [July 20, 2020] has been ruled arson by the Delaware State Fire Marshal’s Office.

No injuries were reported as a result of the fire at Reach Church, located at 2880 Summit Bridge Road, State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Robert Fox said in a statement.

Investigators found that multiple fires were started inside the sanctuary and were caused by an unknown person igniting combustible material, Fox said.

The fire, which was reported shortly before 11 p.m. Monday, caused about $250,000 in damages.

Rev. Chuck L. Betters, the church’s pastor, posted on Facebook that when he arrived at the church Monday, firefighters were cutting holes in the steeple to release the smoke.

“It is not lost on me that we just began our 21 Days of Prayer, that we held our second Core Team Training tonight in the sanctuary, and that we were planning on reopening Sunday morning worship in a couple of weeks,” he posted. “As we have said, we truly believe that this moment in our 35-year history is another watershed moment that will bond us together like never before.”

“Perseverance is ‘finishing its work’ on Reach Church, and I am 100 percent convinced that we will emerge more ‘complete’ than ever,” he went on to say. “Jesus said, ‘I will build my church. And the gates of hell will not prevail against it.'”

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