Arsoned Tyler church seeks helping hands

TYLER?David Mahfood arrived at the church he pastors just in time to watch the building become engulfed in flames.

At approximately 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 16, Mahfood received a phone call from a church member who told him that the church building was on fire. By the time he drove to the church he witnessed with his own eyes as the house of worship burned to the ground.

“It was like a combination of worst nightmares ? the worst sight I’ve ever seen. I don’t think I can adequately describe it,” Mahfood said.

Tyland Baptist Church fell victim to a string of East Texas church arsons. To date, two men have been charged but not yet tried.

“It was heartbreaking for me. We had a beautiful building. In that regard to see the loss was very difficult,” Tyland Baptist Church member Virginia Mayo said.

The churches whose buildings have burned share a unique bond and understanding of both the devastation and healing that takes place after such a malicious act.

“There is a lot of healing across the board,” Mahfood said. “We have people [in the church] who are charter members ? it’s heartbreaking.”

Once the smoke cleared the insurance assessment process started and plans to meet at a temporary location were made. Donations began to pour in to help offset the shortfall Tyland Baptist Church is experiencing due to not having adequate insurance coverage.

The close-knit congregation of 110 meets at Willowbrook Baptist Church, a church located about a mile from their property.

“We were one of many churches offering their facility, and we were glad to do so,” Lloyd McCaskill, pastor Willowbrook Baptist Church said. “If there are things we can do [to help] we will.”

But for church members, while grateful for the generosity of Willowbrook, ‘it’s not the same as when we are in our own building,” Mayo said.

Plans to rebuild began to take shape?a contractor was hired and plans were drawn up. Their contractor, All Star Restoration, is a company accustomed to working with volunteer laborers.

However, in order to restore the church building back to what it was, they are in dire need of volunteer teams to assist with the process.

Initially, Mahfood hoped to have started the rebuilding process in March. Various setbacks has moved that date up to the second week of August.

“We do need volunteers and we hope to have some come forward and help us get our church rebuilt,” Mayo said.

Currently the most critical need is help with framing. Once framing is complete teams are needed to assist with heating and air, drywall, and electrical work.

“We want to rebuild and have a building as pretty as the first one,” Mayo said. “[There are] lots of things to contend with ? and we want it back to its former glory.”

As of July 30, no teams had volunteered to help rebuild. Mayo said the church is prepared to host and provide whatever is needed to the teams who come help.

“We just want to go home, get the job done, restored and back to how we were,” Mahfood said.

“We’re prepared to put teams up in hotels and plan to feed anybody. Whether they come for a week for 10 days at a time, we plan on taking care of whoever comes down,” Mahfood said.

Avoiding debt is the desire of the church, and volunteer labor provides a way for that goal to be met.

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