First Methodist Church members move forward after devastating fire
By NewsPress Now
MARSHALL, Tx. – The congregation of First Methodist Church in Marshall held a prayer service Wednesday to worship together and grieve the loss of the historic church.
This is the first time church members have gathered since the early Monday morning fire. They were hosted by Summit Methodist Church.
“We are a church family. When one part of the body is hurt, the other one hurts. We are to do what we can to help our brothers and sisters. Opening our doors is the least we can do. They are able to come in and have a meaningful, prayerful moment to just lay their burdens down upon the cross. They let the cross handle their problems,” said Summit Church Pastor Darryl Roberts.
The message of the service was “moving forward.”
First Methodist Pastor David Luckert led members through prayer asking them to think about how God is using their loss as a gain for the city of Marshall.
“What is the position of your heart and what is the position of your mind going forward?” Luckert asked the congregation.
Amanda Lipscomb, who has been attending services at First Methodist for 35 years, says she knows there is a hopeful future ahead and kept Jerimiah 29:11 in her mind: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
“I got married there, my husband was baptized there and I was baptized there. I’ve had many aunts and uncles get married in that church. It’s just a really special place to all of us, not just my family, but Marshall as a whole. It’s a historic staple in our community,” said Lipscomb.
Luckert wants church members to allow themselves to grieve the loss of their sanctuary, but do so with hope in their hearts.
“There is a tremendous amount of hope and optimism. There’s a tremendous amount of love that is being poured out from our community and beyond, from sea to shining sea. I’m honored and humbled, and a little “knee-shaking” going forward because it’s going to be a wild ride. In our future, we get to build a church. We’re going to grieve and there is a sense of loss, but we’re going to grieve with hope,” said Luckert.
The First Methodist congregation will worship at First Baptist Church in Marshall on Sunday at 11 a.m.
