Church re-opens building after arson
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HAYWOOD COUNTY, Tenn. — The congregation of a West Tennessee church destroyed by arson is finally home after their dedication service Saturday afternoon. Trinity United Methodist Church Pastor John Bonson said they welcomed almost 250 people through their doors for the first time since a fire destroyed their building on Jan. 7. “It’s been a long journey,” Bonson said. “It’s pretty much like it was, you know? One of the nice things is it feels like home the day we walked in.” Just over eight months later, the Trinity UMC family finally has a home again. “Our daughter called and told us that it was on fire, and I looked out my window and it’s something I’ll never forget,” said Joan Parks, who along with her husband, Terry, has been attending the church for more than 40 years. “It was the most terrible thing I reckon we’ve ever had,” Terry Parks said. “We got up here around 3:30 in the morning, and we’ve been here just about every day since.” For many members, Saturday’s dedication service brought laughter, tears and encouragement to keep moving forward. “A wonderful thing, dedicating the church,” Terry Parks said. “We worked so hard to get it this far, and to see all the people here really was a blessing.” “It means a new beginning, a start over,” Joan Parks said. “We have a lot of memories, but we’re going to make a lot of memories.” Pastor Bonson said he was fighting back tears as he gazed onto his congregation at home again for the first time in months. “To be able to walk into the building and stand in the pulpit, see my congregation, know that they’re home — very meaningful,” he said. The church plans to continue to expand their service to the community with the new space at the church. Many items were donated to Trinity to help them through the process of rebuilding including chairs, the pulpit and the altar.
