CTV Toronto Published Friday, April 11, 2014 12:22PM EDT Last Updated Friday, April 11, 2014 10:45PM EDT

Residents in Aurora, Ont., are mourning the loss a 135-year-old church after a massive fire ripped through the building Friday morning.

Emergency crews were called to Aurora United Church near Yonge Street and Mosley Street just before 10:30 a.m. Friday.

About 60 firefighters, including six local fire trucks and additional fire crews from Richmond Hill, worked to contain the blaze at the height of the fire.

Thick clouds of smoke could be seen billowing from the roof of the building hours after the blaze first broke out and a large portion of the churchs back wall also collapsed.

Police said a group of pre-schoolers and adults were inside the church before the blaze broke out and were immediately cleared from the building.

Officers cleared six to eight homes in the nearby area and evacuated buildings and businesses close to the church as a precaution.

Deputy Fire Chief Paul Leslie told reporters that the fire is believed to have started in the rear roof of the building.

Leslie said the flames were so intense that crews were forced to pull away from the building at one point.

Its just the nature of churches - they are very tall, you cannot access the roof from the inside and so it just made it very difficult for us to fight the fire, Leslie said.

Read more:
Massive fire engulfs historic church in Aurora

WYTHE CO., Va. -

Renovating your home, business or church isn't cheap. In Wythe County, the small congregation of Asbury Methodist says it's stepping out in faith to get repair work done on its 100 year old church.

For more than one hundred years, the room behind the pulpit of Asbury Methodist Church in Rural Retreat was used for storage. Looking there today, one sees deep holes and brown dirt as a construction crew work shoring up a shaky foundation.

Asbury has a long line of congregants. Generations of families are buried behind the all-white church.

Inside, deep divots in the pews are a testament to a busier time, but ten years ago Asbury Methodist almost died.

Adam Linkous is Asbury's Superintendent, not its pastor.

"The average attendance was nine. Some Sundays less, four or five Sundays ago we had 16 children we had 48 [adults]. We've seen pastors come and go," Linkous said.

Ten years ago, after several stints filling in as Asbury's Sunday piano player, Linkous decided to join this nearly empty church.

"God spoke to me at our very piano bench and said "I'm not done here. There's still a spark. I need somebody to help me fan the flames," he said.

Two weeks ago, the church noticed how lopsided the pulpit was. Linkous said it was decided to fix it.

Follow this link:
Hundred year old church getting facelift on faith

Greg Marshburn portrays Jesus during dress rehearsal for 'The Victor' - the Easter production for Bethlehem Baptist Church Monday evening. 'The Victor' will have performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

A cast of more than 80 from a Jacksonville church will revive a tradition of presenting the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ in a dramatic musical

After a five-year hiatus, Bethlehem Baptist Church on Gum Branch Road will present The Victor, a musical written by Christian songwriter David Clydesdale that looks at the week leading up to what the church pastor Daniel Flynn calls the pinnacle of the Christian belief: the resurrection of Jesus Christ. According to Flynn, the show, which includes a cast of 86 people, will depict what the final week of Jesus Christs life was like.

The thing captured by the large cast is that its more realistic, Flynn said. The mass of people will help you understand what Jesus was going through when he was giving it all.

The shows director and church music director, Travis Parker, said the decision was made to revive the show, which he said was a staple at the church for more than two decades, after the church used its time and materials to put on an outdoor presentation for the Christmas season called One Night in Bethlehem for the past three years. Parker said the decision was made to revive the spring production after requests from the congregation. Parker said preparations began in January with choir rehearsals for a cast nearly three times as big as the churchs regular choir and the construction of a new set.

Theres a lot of talent with this show, but I cant take credit for it, Parker said. There are quite a few new people who have never done this before, but there are also a lot of people who have done the same parts over and over again.

One of the cast members reprising a role is Seth Howard, a Richlands farmer who plays Benjamin, a member of the religious authority who becomes a follower of Jesus and the shows narrator. Howard said he cannot remember how many times hes played the role, but said hes happy to be a part of a show he hopes will bring people to Christ.

Its been very exiting, Howard said. Theres a lot of excitement this year about presenting the show. If one person comes to know Christ as our savior through this show, it will be all worth it.

The role of Jesus will be played for the first time by another Richlands farmer, Greg Marshburn. Marshburn said this is the first time hes had a speaking role in the show he said hes played Roman soldiers in previous performances and that taking on the role has not always been easy.

Youre playing someone whos perfect, and Im not perfect, Marshburn said. Thats the hardest part. Im not a singer or an actor either, but (Parker) asked me to do it and I did. Its been a great experience and I hope Im a witness to Christ through this show.

Continued here:
Church revives Easter tradition

Parish members of Our Lady of the Assumption Church built a new sanctuary to accommodate overcrowding. Friday nights dedication service for the new building was more of the same.

But, it isnt anticipated the church will see the 317 who attended but officials do pledge to have room for those who want to come home to the Catholic church.

The new church, for which the architectural plans and the key to was presented to Bishop Anthony B. Taylor, who also cut the ribbon to allow the throng of parishoners and visitors into the building Friday, will seat 175 to 200.

Thats more than double what the previous sanctuary seated, although the church was drawing about 120 for mass when construction began on the new building in August.

The original church had been dedicated on July 25, 1956 which was about three years following masses beginning in the city, according to church history. Initially, mass was held in a National Guard Armory, and later in a courtroom in the courthouse.

Fridays dedication was the culmination of a project that actually began as a fundraising project in 2008 while Father Don Tranel led the church. Tranel was in town for the dedication Friday and carried a Relic stone that was placed in the new alter in the church.

Tranel came to the church in 2006 from the Glenmary Home Missioners and in 2012 the church transitioned from a mission church to a Diocesan Parish, church history states.

In addition to the new church, the sign in front of Oak Hill Cemetery on Highway 10 providing direction to the church was also replaced with a new one on Friday.

Go here to read the rest:
Catholic Church Dedicated Friday

ANDERSON A central Indiana church has emerged from bankruptcy after filing last year when it wasnt able to make a $5.8 million balloon payment on a construction loan.

The repayment of Madison Park Church of Gods loan has since been renegotiated, and the roughly 3,000-family congregation church in Anderson is now on a new payment schedule to repay the debt in full, said Rob Spaulding, the churchs business administrator.

We refinanced it with the bond holders, he said. The court proceedings were necessary to bind everyone to the agreement.

The church filed in July for Chapter 11 reorganization over a nearly $17.5 million loan from 2007 to pay for construction of its community life center near the Interstate 69 interchange with Indiana 9 on the citys south side, the Herald Bulletin reported Monday.

David Whitmoyer, vice chairman of the churchs board of elders, said there was no debt reduction from the court proceedings but that negotiations with creditors were unsuccessful until the bankruptcy was filed.

We had known for a couple of years we would not be able to make those payments, he said.

Church officials said it still plans to sell about 100 acres surrounding its property. Spaulding said a senior housing group will be developing about 16 acres soon and eventually the church would like to see new retail outlets in the area.

The church is moving forward thanks to the support of its congregation and new interest rates, he said.

We certainly held our own and have been very stable through all of this, he said. But this really gives us a very stable platform for us to move forward.

View post:
Anderson church's finances reworked

The Gilbert Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated Sunday, March 2.

Photo courtesy of John Power

SALT LAKE CITY LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson did not announce any new temples on Saturday morning during the opening session of the 184th Annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

President Monson said the church will focus on completing 28 temples around the world already under construction or that had been announced at earlier conferences.

"Although we are currently concentrating our efforts on completing the previously announced temples and will not be announcing any new temples in the immediate future, we will continue the process of determining needs and of finding locations for temples yet to come," he said. "Announcements will then be made in future general conferences. We are a temple-building and a temple-attending people."

This is the second consecutive conference without an announcement of a new temple. Such announcements had been a common part of the Saturday morning sessions of conferences during a temple building surge that saw the church go from 50 to 142 temples in 27 years.

Already, 85 percent of church members live within 200 miles of a temple, both Elder Quentin L. Cook and Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said during talks on Saturday.

President Monson dedicated the church's 142nd operating temple on March 2 in Gilbert, Ariz. President Monson or another church leader will dedicate the Fort Lauderdale Florida Temple on May 4.

"Other temples are scheduled to be completed and dedicated later this year," President Monson said. "In 2015 we anticipate completing and dedicating new temples in many parts of the world. This process will continue."

The church has not yet announced dates for any other temple dedications.

Excerpt from:
No new LDS temples for now, but President Monson says more to come

ORANGE North Orange Baptist Church (NOBC) has seen many changes over the years from the humble beginnings of a few citizens meeting in the home of Oliver and Pat Seruntine to discuss organizing on April 7, 1939 to celebrating 75 years this Sunday. The church officially organized on April 13, 1939 in the home of Mrs. Frank Cooper.

The church will celebrate the 75th anniversary, also known as the Diamond Anniversary, 10:45 a.m. April 6, at 4775 North 16th Street, Orange, with former staff members Bro. Lynn Ashcraft preaching the morning message and Bro. Wade Daniel leading the worship service. The service will be followed by a dinner on the grounds in the Christian Life Center where guests and members are welcome to hear and share stories from the past 75 years.

Ashcraft was the Lead Pastor at the church for 34 years prior to Lead Pastor Scott McIntosh acquiring the position.

It speaks well of the church for a pastor to serve that long at one church, McIntosh said. I was always told there was a friendly congregation here.

McIntosh also said the church tries to contact guests to say thank you for attending.

We do not try to convert them to our church, we just want to say thank you for being with us, McIntosh said. It is part of the friendliness of our church family.

McIntosh, former missionary to Scotland and Africa, has been the Lead Pastor for the past six year at NOBC.

When the church began its first building program, authorization was given to borrow a sum not to exceed $1,350 for the construction of a new building. Those dollars in todays value is the equivalent of $22,881.36.

The church has had four locations over the years with the first at 1301 North Tenth Street, Orange. The church completed construction of the present Christian Life Center (CLC) Building in 1989. The addition provided a place for Wednesday evening activities, for recreation, fellowship, and all church banquets. It also provided space for youth and adult Sunday School departments. The cost of the CLC project was just over $1 million. The building saw further expansion in 1998 with additional parking, a new preschool/childrens building, a music suite, and remodeled space for adult Sunday School departments. Cost of the expansion project was approximately $1.4 million.

NOBC reaches out in local missions and several International mission opportunities from Honduras, Uganda, and France. Each summer, the youth and other groups have traveled to New Mexico and Arizona to work with the Navajo.

More here:
North Orange Baptist Church honors 75 years

Teresa Ingle, pastor at Wakarusa Presbyterian Church, put a sample of water in an agar-filled petri dish as part of an educational program during a Living Waters for the World mission trip last month to Pajuiles, Honduras.

Within four days, small, white worms were growing in the petri dish.

The water came from the villages water supply and was being used by residents for drinking, cooking and bathing. The effects of the dirty water could be seen in the bloated bellies, small stature, intestinal problems and malnutrition of the towns children.

Water is an integral part of life and clean water is an integral part of a healthy life, Ingle said.

Living Waters for the World partners with global communities to develop a sustainable solution for providing clean water. It provides an affordable, simple water treatment system for contaminated water and teaches local leaders about health and hygiene so they can take ownership of their own well-being. The organization doesnt drill wells or provide other water access solutions.

Living Waters for the World is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), but churches of all denominations and civic organizations can participate. Since its inception in the early 1990s, Living Waters for the World has helped install more than 500 clean-water systems in other countries and the Appalachian region of the United States.

Ingle was part of a five-member team from the Presbytery of Northern Kansas who joined five volunteers from a Presbyterian church in Collierville, Tenn., in March to install a water filtration and ozonation system in Pajuiles. Other volunteers from the Presbytery of Northern Kansas were David and Julie Parks, of Salina Sunrise Presbyterian Church, and Penny and Thad Allton, of Topekas First Presbyterian Church. Thad Allton is director of photography at The Topeka Capital-Journal.

David Parks, moderator for the Honduras Networking Coordinating Team and coordinator of the March trip, said he became involved in Living Waters for the World in 2008 and has made 19 trips to Honduras since then.

Parks said volunteers who want to take part in a Living Waters for the World mission first undergo training in leadership and administrative tasks, such as water testing; education focusing on the importance of health, hygiene and the spiritual aspects of water; and construction and maintenance of the water filtration and ozonation system.

Prior to receiving the equipment, a water issues survey and water testing were conducted in Pajuiles to make sure the filtration and ozonation system would properly clean the water.

Continue reading here:
Church members help install water purification system in Honduras

Hundreds of people, including elderly and in some cases disabled women, have now occupied the church to prevent demolition teams moving in.

"There are bad people out there trying to damage our church so we must defend it," said Li Jingliu, a 56-year-old former factory worker who has been sleeping in one of its back offices since Wednesday.

"I've come here today to show my support. A church is a scared place and we are all brothers and sisters." said Jin Yufu, 55, from the nearby community of Wenling. "Christianity has made a big contribution to society in many ways. Thanks to Church we don't smoke, gamble or drink. Christians are good people."

Wenzhou, a wealthy coastal city around 230 miles south of Shanghai in Zhejiang province, has around seven million residents. Local Christians claim as many as 15 per cent of them are church goers, the majority Protestant.

Red crosses and spires still adorn the skyline of a city where British missionaries, including George Stott, set up churches towards the end of the 19th century.

Wenzhou's underground "house" churches those unwilling to comply with Communist Party rules have long been subjected to sporadic crackdowns, such as one in 2000 that saw hundreds of churches and temples demolished across Zhejiang province.

However, the Sanjiang church is part of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement, China's officially sanctioned and government-controlled Protestant church, making this week's stand-off highly unusual.

Parishioners believe their church was targeted after Xia Baolong, the provincial Party chief, visited the region and was unimpressed by the prominence of a church built to house thousands of worshippers.

"His behaviour is illegal. He has abused his power. The construction of the church is not against the law," said Wang Jianfeng, a 47-year-old man from a nearby congregation who was among hundreds of people gathered on the steps outside on Friday in a show of force.

Wen Xiaowu, another visitor, said he believed China's president would be "displeased" with his Communist colleagues in Zhejiang.

Read more:
Christians form human shield around church in 'China's Jerusalem' after demolition threat

Gibsons

Gibsons

Ian Jacques Photo

Archbishop Michael Miller from Vancouver, centre, was on hand last Sunday, March 30, for the dedication of the new St. Marys Catholic Church in Gibsons. See more photos and video in our online galleries at http://www.coastreporter.net

Ian Jacques/Editor

Through songs, scripture and celebration, the parishioners of St. Marys Catholic Church in Gibsons dedicated their new church building last Sunday morning.

Archbishop Michael Miller from Vancouver was on hand for the dedication mass alongside Father Vincent. The mass brought together the whole congregation, young and old and many invited guests to the new church, which held its first mass in the new building after a 14-month construction phase.

This new church is a living sign of Gods presence in our midst and it is a wonderful sign, Miller said. A place of worship is where a community gathers where the community gathers to celebrate what is most holy. Your parish community has done something extraordinary built a new church in a record time even under budget, which is frankly unbelievable!

You now have a church that will last through your children and your childrens children. It is wonderful, wonderful what you have accomplished.

Since construction started in September of last year, the parishioners have been holding mass in the hall behind the church.

Continued here:
New St. Marys Church dedicated