SAN ANTONIO – Grace Point Church on San Antonio's Northwest Side is opening its doors again. It held its first Sunday service this weekend after a massive fire tore through its sanctuary on Father’s Day.
Pastor Jeff Harris said he was spending Father's Day with family when he got the call.
“He said, ‘No, really, it’s on fire.’ So I drove down here as fast as I could. It’s kind of wild, I've been the pastor here 23 years so watching your second home, it’s pretty tough," Harris said.
The church was told it was an electrical fire; however, what exactly sparked the blaze is still unknown. Harris estimated it will take up to a year to get the sanctuary back to its prime.
The church said it isn’t going to let the fire dampen their spirits. It held Sunday service in its youth building. The topic of the sermon: wildfire.
"It’s not about a fire externally, it’s about a fire internally and that’s what we’re talking about," Harris said.
He also told us that this unfortunate fire really is a reminder about what's most important.
"God is good. This is his plan so it’s got to be good so we're rolling with it and excited about it. It’s just a building, right? If you could get out of a fire in your home with all your people, your kids and your loved ones, you'd be fine."
While difficult to estimate the cost of damages, it's believed to be well over a million dollars. The outpouring of support from the community? Priceless.
"It’s weird being on the receiving end, but it’s awesome to see the body of Christ is not these individual churches - we are one church. It’s not buildings, it’s not these things we do - it’s about the relationships and the people that come together to serve God," Harris said.
The church said its insurance will only cover up to a certain amount so it will still be short many items.
The church has set up a website for donations as it rebuilds.