Nevada community vows to rebuild after fire damages church [Video]

NEVADA, Mo. — Members of a southwest Missouri community have vowed to rebuild a historic church after it was badly damaged by a fire.

That fire’s damage didn’t stop First Christian Church’s congregation from holding worship on Sunday. The church had already purchased the building next door and converted it into a fellowship hall.

Wayne Jeans, a church elder, said they will rebuild.

“It was a historic church, very high ceilings, a lot of stained glass, it was a beautiful building , we’ll never be able to fully replace it but the church is just a building, the real church is the people that attend, and church families rally together to keep things going,” said Jeans.

This is actually the second time fire destroyed the building, with the first time being in 1948. It was rebuilt a year later.

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Jeans said the congregation will continue to meet in the fellowship hall next door until a new one is built.