Pastor says members of burned-out church, school children will find new homes

FLORENCE - When a multi-alarm fire destroyed a church here, one powerful relic survived: a massive cross that's been pulled from the ruins to inspire the congregation.

The cross was on display Sunday at Burlington Township High School, where members of the Fountain of Life Center gathered to worship just days after losing their spiritual home.

"The cross was on the cupola, the very top of the building," said Pastor Russ Hodgins, recalling how flames surrounded the religious icon during the March 20 blaze.

Divine sign?

"It fell right in the middle of the sanctuary," he said. "I think God was sending us a message that the cross and the message of the cross will always be central."

About 10 church members carried the cross from the ashes on Saturday.

"It wasn't easy," said Hodgins, estimating the "solid iron" symbol weighs 1,000 pounds or more.

"I wanted to do it so badly, so we could get it set up and erected (for Sunday's service)," the pastor continued. "The cross is a great symbol of hope."

More:Why firefighters could not save the huge South Jersey church destroyed by fire

Overflow crowd for Sunday service

He said 1,000 or more people attended the service in the school's Performing Arts Center, with an overflow crowd in a gym.

"I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of joy," said Hodgins, who preached a message of faith and optimism.

"Even though we’re weeping and sorrowful, it doesn’t prevent us from going forward," said the pastor, who also noted an outpouring of support from the community.

"God has a powerful way of turning things around, from sorrow to joy, from tears to triumph."

What happens next?

But the immediate future remains uncertain for the Assemblies of God church on Columbus Road and its school, Life Center Academy.

"It'll be week by week. Right now we're a little bit unsure," said the pastor, noting he was not aware of the fire's cause.

The congregation expects to meet at the high school until officials allow the church to reopen its Life Center building, where a gym can hold up to 1,500 people.

But the 350-student school, although spared from the flames in the adjacent church, is closed pending replacement of a fire-protection system that was destroyed in the blaze, said its headmaster, Matt Boudwin.

Preschool children will attend class at a Burlington Township church until they can return to the Life Center building, he said.

The academy hopes to place its K-12 students at the now-vacant Bookbinder Elementary School in Willingboro.

"We were well-insured and we are going to be able to build back just as strong, and maybe stronger," said Hodgins.

"We're already looking at what plans might look like for a future house of worship," he added.

The cross, which was removed from the high school's property after the service, will have a prominent location during the rebuilding, Hodgins said.

"We're going to erect it on the (Fountain of Life Center) property," he said. "While rebuilding takes place, whenever someone drives on the campus, they will see the cross."

Jim Walsh is a senior reporter with the Courier-Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal.