BURNED CHURCH IN SPRING VALLEY FINDS NEW TEMPORARY HOME FOR SERVICES

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East County News Service

Photo: Screenshot off Full Gospel church's Facebook page

March 27, 2016 (Spring Valley) – A fire burned down the Full Gospel Church of God in Christ in Spring Valley last weekend.  The Pentacostal church serves a congregation of about 30 people, mainly African Americans.

Just in time for Easter Sunday services, another church previously burned in a fire has offered up space for Full Gospel’s worship services, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Cal Fire is investigating the cause of the fire, but a video posted on Facebook by a member of the Full Gospel church indicates the fire apparently began in a motor home parked near the church.

Pastor Jesse Walters started the  Full Gospel church five years ago, after seeking a neighborhood in need of a church. “Our faith is tried,” he told the Union-Tribune. The church has insurance, but the destruction of the church space and a piano that provided music for the faithful are painful losses. 

Walters vowed to rebuild. “Jesus rose, and we’ll rise, too.”

Meanewhile, Pastor George McKinney at St. Stephen’s Cathedral Church of God in Christ in Valencia Park (5825 Imperial Avenue, San Diego)  has given the displaced  Full Gospel congregation use of an annex at St. Stephen’s.  St. Stephen’s burned in 1985, after a mentally ill man set it on fire. 

Back then, St. Stephens’ congregation got help from a traveling evangelist who donated use of a tent for the church to use for worship services and feeding the homeless.  So now Rev. McKinney is giving back this Easter season, a time when Christians around the world celebrate resurrection and a time of new beginnings.


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