Future uncertain for Centre County church after horrible fire

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — A little over a day after it went up in flames, members of the Woodycrest United Methodist Church said they never expected something so terrible to happen.

You can still smell the smoke in the air.

“I never would have expected it in a million years. This church has always been so faithful and careful of making sure that everything is cared for with such meticulous care that I just never would have expected that,” Pastor Renee Ford said.

Others like Debra Romig, the church organist, were in shock.

“Well, my husband got the call first and he said to me, are you sitting down? And I said, no. And he said, well, maybe you should. And he told me and it was pretty tough,” she said.

Despite the fire, the church held a worship service in the parking lot on Sunday. Parts of the building are deemed unsafe, while others can still be used.

Pastor Ford said that the fire may have consumed the sanctuary, but it didn’t consume the church or their faith.

“This is an opportunity for us to really follow Jesus in a new and different way, to remember that. That it’s God who is the source of our strength, who gives us what we need and provides for us as we move forward,” she said.

Through the devastation, the church plans to keep their little pantry running for people in the community who need help. The free thrift store in the basement however, will have to stop for now.

“I grew up in this church. So I’m probably one of the one of the two oldest members right now. I’ve seen a lot of changes, a lot of good changes. We’ve been through a lot. This is the most disastrous thing but God’s going to get us through it. We really, really believe that,” Sandra Lyle, a member said.

As for what comes next, they’re still trying to figure that out. The church plans to continue worshipping outdoors for the next few weeks.

“Our souls are not crushed. You know, we might be feeling a little beaten down right now, but we will move forward because it’s God who leads us, just like God led Moses,” Pastor Ford said.

There will be a meeting Tuesday night to discuss things in further detail. What they need most from the community right now is prayer.

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