Windber Church of the Nazarene to install pastor at first worship service since fire
The Windber Church of the Nazarene congregation plans to officially install their new pastor this weekend and worship together in person for the first time since their church building was heavily damaged by a lightning strike and fire.
Mike Long, who began his duties as lay pastor of the Nazarene congregation on July 1, is to be installed as lead pastor at 1 p.m. Sunday by the Rev. Daniel Eddings, superintendent of the Pittsburgh District Church of the Nazarene.
The Scalp Level Covenant Brethren Church, 250 Hoffman Ave., has offered to host the service, Long said.
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Update on the church, and the building
In the weeks since the Aug. 21 fire, Long has been posting video sermons on Sundays to the church’s Facebook page and audio messages on Spotify, as well as reaching out to his congregation through phone calls and visits when he can. He lives in Munster, Cambria County, and works full-time as a corrections officer.
“The story that God has for us to carry on is very simple: We are the church, we are not a building,” Long said in an Aug. 28 video message posted on the church’s Facebook page.
“I believe in a living God that makes perfect the imperfect … that makes the tiny little sprout pop up out of the burnt ground, to prove that life and love will always prevail.”
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Long said that “the fire is a tiny fraction of the story,” as he praised the Windber Fire Department and other first responders for protecting the community during a dangerous situation.
He also noted how the congregation quickly received an overwhelming outpouring of concern and support from other churches, the Windber community and beyond.
“The amazing thing is everything that has happened from then to now,” he said. “That’s the story I believe God wants us to tell.
“The neighbors and communities … I can’t list them all because they just keep coming in — they are the story of this event. The outpouring of support, love and prayers … every community around us has reached out to offer everything they can.”
Meanwhile, the gaping hole in the roof at the back of the sanctuary remains uncovered because the damaged exterior wall is too unstable to allow anyone near to place tarps, Long said.
An insurance adjuster has examined the building, and the church leadership was told that going through the claims process will take some time.
“He told us the process is going to be a very lengthy process, (and he) asked us to be patient,” Long said.
“God’s word is almost all about patience, (so) we’re focusing on being patient and letting the Lord guide us through this whole process.”
Sunday services in parsonage
Work is also underway at the church parsonage, located directly behind the church on Ninth Street, to get it ready to hold in-person worship services. Long said a water pipe burst in the house last winter, damaging flooring that needs to be replaced.
“That insurance claim went through quickly, but we weren’t in a hurry (to make the repairs),” he said. “Now we are.”
Long said the congregation hopes to hold church services in the parsonage in about two weeks — but they also want to consider the offers of hospitality from other churches.
"We’re looking forward to seeing and meeting with other churches that have reached out to us,” he said.
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Anyone who would like to send a note of encouragement to the congregation can mail it to Windber Church of the Nazarene, 501 Ninth Street, Windber, PA 15963.
“I’ll read it to everybody,” Long said.
“God renews every single second of every day — he makes everything brand new. We’re holding on to God’s coattails and we’ll see where God takes us through this whole thing.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Windber Church of the Nazarene to meet for first service since fire
