Church Fire: October 28, 1949

The above image and newspaper clipping if from The Atlanta Constitution and is dated Saturday, October 29, 1949. If you click on the image you can see a larger version and isolate it on your screen by itself.

The caption underneath the image states, FIRE DESTROYS LITHIA SPRINGS CHURCH---The new $62,000 First Baptist Church in Lithia Springs was destroyed by fire last night. The structure was dedicated only last Sunday. The fire was discovered shortly before a scheduled meeting.

It was well the church had a firm foundation because it went from a mountain-top experience of exaltation to the valley of despair in five short days. It was in the testing time that the real church emerged to build again an even larger, stronger organization, with more facilities to proclaim God’s love in the community.

Three days after the disastrous fire a meeting was called to discuss plans for the future. From that time on, every effort was put forth in raising funds and devising plans for another building. Surrounding churches offered their facilities, a store building, the Scout Hut, and private homes were used on a temporary basis. Later meetings were held in the school until the present auditorium was completed in August, 1951.