Monday, March 01, 1999

Warren Co. church lost to fire, but congregation didn't lose God

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BY MIRIAM SMITH
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        BUTLERVILLE — Russell Creager helped pour the cement for the First Baptist Church of Butlerville when it was built about 25 years ago.

        Even though his southern Warren County church was gutted by fire last weekend, Mr. Creager was still part of its foundation Sunday.

        He and about 15 other members of the congregation attended their first service at the neighboring Bethlehem Baptist Church since the Feb. 21 fire.

        The accidental blaze, which started in the furnace area, did about $80,000 in damage, fire officials said.

        But the Rev. Joe McFarland told the congregation the building was insured and they would refurbish it, although he doesn't know how soon.

        “(There's) gonna be some tough times here,” the Rev. Mr. McFarland said. “People out of convenience might go to other places and they might not come back again. That's OK with me. ... As long as you're serving the Lord.”

        Mr. Creager, who sat next to his wife, Emma, and friend Ruby Cook, dabbed at his eyes with a tissue during the service.

        All three helped build and paint the church, like so many members of the congregation who donated their labor so they could have a place to worship.

        But on Sunday, they sat in strange pews as the pianist struggled with a “newfangled” electric piano while playing “Amazing Grace.”

        Still, the faces were famil iar. And they hugged, sang and prayed together as they would any other service.

        The Rev. Charles Miller of Bethlehem Baptist Church said he made the offer to let the congregation use his building after seeing the gutted church.

        “We're going to do what we can to take care of each other,” he said.

        After the service, Mr. Creager said the spirit of their congregation, which has about 50 members, was still with them.

        But he couldn't help but long for the church he helped build.

        “It's not the same,” said Mr. Creager, 69, of Woodville in Clermont County. “There's so many of us not here today. ... We miss the people that weren't here today. ... We're just more or less a family.”

        So much a family that when the Rev. Mr. McFarland asked the congregation where it should hold services next week, Mrs. Cook volunteered her home.

        “Your house? Will you serve breakfast before service?” the Rev. Mr. McFarland joked.

        Then he asked how many of the congregation knew where Mrs. Cook lived. Almost all hands shot up.

        Mrs. Cook, who helped paint the church after it was built, said the congregation will stay strong until they rebuild the church.

        “It's sad that we lost the building, but we didn't lose God,” she said.

       

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