On Sunday [July 14, 2013], the congregation of Trinity Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Opelika, Ala., gathered at the EAMC Health Resource Center to hold church. The church, which has been in Opelika since 1973, caught on fire Saturday night, causing significant damage to the surrounding office spaces, as well as water damage to the sanctuary.

UPDATE:

This Trinity Presbyterian Church page will be updated with helpful information about the July 13 fire, as well as worship location updates and opportunities for service.

On Saturday, July 13 Trinity suffered a devastating fire that destroyed the church office, pastors’ offices (including 2000+ books), church library (1000+ volumes), nurseries, kitchen, roof, and steeple.  Severe smoke, water, and heat damage were sustained by the sanctuary and choir room.

The number of people asking how they may give or help has been so encouraging.  Mission to North America’s Disaster Response has setup a special fund for anyone interested in donating to cover a variety of immediate expenses and needs. You can access the site to make a donation here.  [Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.] 100% of the proceeds go directly to the church.

Trinity Presbyterian Church catches fire Saturday in Opelika

Fire at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Opelika

For Trinity Presbyterian Pastor Chris Duncan, God cannot be contained in a building.

The morning after his church was razed by fire, Duncan encouraged his congregation, who gathered at the Health Resource Center of the East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, that worship can be done anywhere and that God has a plan.

“No matter how things appear, the Lord is working out his purposes and his plans and is doing it for his glory and for our good,” Duncan said.

During the sermon, Duncan read passages from John 4 in the Bible where it says to worship God “in spirit and in truth” and that worship needed to be simple, not elaborate.

“We are to come before the Lord with a heartfelt awe, a heartfelt reverence and adoration,” Duncan said. “It’s not about just going through the motions.”

Looking back on Saturday night, Duncan said he was overwhelmed by the encouragement he received from the church and people in the community who said they would be praying for him.

“It’s just encouraging with the number of folks that have expressed their love and support,” Duncan said.

Duncan said he is not sure where church will be held next Sunday and that there are logistical details to go through, but that the church would get through it.

“I know we’re going to get through this because I know that God is faithful and I also know that we have the right people to do this,” Duncan said.

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