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One early Friday morning, several years ago, I received a telephone call informing me that Tabernacle United Methodist, a beautiful old church in Amelia County, Virginia burned to the ground. When I arrived, all that remained were cement steps leading to nothing more than charred posts and black soot. Church members and bystanders could only stare in shock and disbelief.

For me, it was like being a witness to death because a church building represents a community full of life and shared memories. Think about what your church means: baptisms celebrating life, funerals remembering our afterlife, worship services giving glory to the God we love and serve, covered-dish suppers providing good food and joyous fellowship, meetings agonizing over how best to serve God, children’s Christmas specials and youth activities offering fun and spiritual opportunities.

Like many who were there, I wanted to help but how? How should we as Christian’s respond to such a horrifying tragedy? Our churches canceled services and we drove to Tabernacle to be with friends and fellow Christians. We came to grieve and bring gifts of love. Honestly, we came expecting a funeral, but there was no funeral to be found. Instead, we witnessed the miracle of a church being reborn!

A colorful banner was propped over the front steps proclaiming proudly: Worship, Sunday 9:45 AM. Two greeters were there to welcome us, hand out bulletins and attach yellow ribbons. Chairs were placed on the lawn, donated by a local funeral home. A makeshift pulpit with a cross and pictures of the church were placed in front of the burned-out building. A pick-up truck held a makeshift sound system and the choir was seated off to one side. The miracle for God’s church was just beginning!

The pastor began the service describing the events leading up to the fire, including a church meeting about building an addition, which would include a fellowship hall and a kitchen. Then he described the total shock of the fire and how he had to keep returning to the scene just to make sure it wasn’t all a nightmare. Finally, he paused and announced to the congregation and to all of us: “We are going to build a new church and it will have a fellowship hall and a kitchen.”

He went on to describe a stranger driving by and seeing what happened, immediately took all the money out of his wallet and gave it to the church to help rebuild and vowed to come back with more. A cabinetmaker promised to build several new cabinets and donate them all to the church. A carpenter volunteered his labor. A local church offered their mission team to assist in the work. Another church offered free use of their building. Other churches donated hymnbooks and office equipment.

During the service, the children and choir sang. Prayers were offered to the sick, and we worshipped God, just as the church has done for over two thousand years. In the midst of the smoking ruins, a resurrected church began to dream and build toward the future. A miracle was quietly taking place.

Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you…Now I say to you that you are Peter (the rock) and upon this rock I will build my church and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.” (Matthew 16:16-18)

Let’s face it… most of us take the existence of our church for granted. Sometimes, it takes a fire to remind us of the vital role of God’s “rock” the church. During the service a minister spoke of courage and faith of Christians forced underground in the Soviet Union only to be reborn stronger than ever.

A year later, I was invited to another worship service at Tabernacle United Methodist. This time we were celebrating our own miracle of rebirth. In twelve months, money was raised, contractors secured and a new church was built on the ashes of the old. As word got around, more people were caught up in the enthusiasm. Worship attendance and membership nearly doubled. All I could say was, “Wow!”