A fire on Friday may have destroyed the building used for church, but the congregation’s pastor said the faith on which it was founded remains strong.

“It’s hard to see the good in something like this,” Pastor Jeremy Hill said, “but if you believe the word of God, if you believe the Bible, you know all things happen for the good. We’re going to hold on to that.”

Hill has been the preacher at Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church in Elkmont for the last seven years. It was his sister who first told him that the church had caught fire. He arrived to find emergency responders from all over the county fighting to put out a blaze that had already taken out the church’s sanctuary and pulpit.

Hill said due to the pandemic, they hadn’t been meeting in the church for services like they normally do. Now, they’ll be waiting even longer to return while they wait on answers and what, if anything, can be salvaged.

“We’re just a small, country church, but we all love one another, had unity and had good services here,” Hill said Friday. He said the best, biggest thing anyone could do for them right now is pray.

Among those responding to the fire were Elkmont, Ardmore, Oak Grove-Thach and Piney Chapel volunteer fire departments. Athens-Limestone EMS and the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office were also on the scene, but no one was reported Friday as injured.

“The good thing is, nobody was hurt,” Hill said. “Anything that was burnt can be replaced, and we’re thankful for that.”

On Monday, church leaders and members were still waiting for answers as to what may have caused the fire. Hill expects he’ll hear back from the state fire marshal’s office with an update on the investigation sometime this week.

Meanwhile, the congregation is continuing to turn to prayer and God.

“We’re a church that believes God is in control,” Hill said. “He’ll take care of it; he always does. We have that faith, regardless. We’ll stand on that faith and stand with God in everything.”

Hill said they met Sunday to discuss options for services and meeting places moving forward. A benefit or other fundraiser may be announced at a later date to help with rebuilding efforts.