MAXTON — A local church is ready to begin rising from the ashes.
On April 5, 2018, more than 50 firefighters — including those from Scotland County — converged on Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church to battle a fire that ultimately destroyed the 132-year-old church.
On Saturday, the rebuilding will officially begin with a groundbreaking at 11 a.m. on the grounds of the old church. The event will be open to the public.
But the real rebuilding process began immediately after the blaze was extinguished.
The Rev. Michael Ellerbee, pastor of Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church, said he is grateful for the outpouring of support and love from churches in the community and the Renaissance Event Center.
Local churches such as St. Matthew AME Zion Church, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Saint George United Methodist Church have reached out to members of SGMBC, volunteering the use of their facilities for special programs or events. Specifically, Saint George United Methodist Church has given members of SGMBC access to their facilities for funeral services.
Since the fire, church members regularly gather at the Renaissance Event Center for church services including worship service, Bible study and choir practices.
“I grew up in Maxton,” said Lorenza McEachin, owner of the Renaissance Event Center. “Both of my grandparents were members of the church. When I heard it happened, I gave them (the church) a call.”
From there, leasing options were discussed and the process has gone “smoothly” according to McEachin.
According to Ellerbee, the church anticipates moving into a new church building by June of this year.
He added the groundbreaking ceremony will be a service in which members will “dedicate the new church back to God.” In addition, the church will be taking $25 donations for souvenir shovels with the pastor’s name and date of the groundbreaking ceremony printed on them.
“When I think of (the) church, I think of family, a place where the family has always gathered … a place that’s always been a part of us,” said Irene Crossland, a lifetime member of Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church.
One issue the church has faced since the tragedy is a decrease in attendance.
According to Ellerbee, while the church holds a membership roll of 200 and averaged 80 to 100 attendees before the fire, it now sees about 60 attendees at worship services on Sunday.
However, Ellerbee expresses confidence that more members will return when the construction of the new building is complete.
“We are going be patient and pray that God will send them back,” he said.
But the memories from 11 months ago are still clear as a bell to most of the church members. Crossland remembers the morning of the tragedy all too well.
She received a call and recalls being one of the first people to see the church in flames.
Crossland stood alongside of other church members in shock as she describes witnessing the building that held so much history and so many memories for her burning.
The cause of the fire was undetermined.
Jessica Horne is a student intern from UNCP. She can be reached by phone at 910-506-3185 or by email at [email protected].
