WILLS POINT, Texas — It was an emotional Sunday morning service for the congregation at Russell Memorial United Methodist Church in Wills Point.
They paused to sing hymns and give thanks after the fire that destroyed their sanctuary on Thursday.
Pastor Darrell Coat, on the job for just a week, made the emotional decision to continue Sunday worship five days after the tragedy. He said members were ready, considering their heroic efforts during the blaze.
Although no date has been set for construction of a new sanctuary, there is relief that the church was fully insured for its structural loss.
Russell Memorial members are full of faith, and confident that they will rebuild.
The Wills Point church fire is the sixth in recent weeks in Texas. Arson investigators haven't linked this latest fire to the five others.
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