It was smiles, singing and celebration Sunday at Liberty CME Church in LaFayette, one of three churches burned by accused arsonists last Valentine’s Day.
The church, which was completely destroyed by the fire earlier this year, was dedicated Sunday after being rebuilt. The new, all-brick structure was full of old friends and supporters for the festivities.
Liberty CME Church hosts ribbon cutting for new church building: Bishop Lawrence L. Reddick, presiding Prelate and Rev. Shelia Crabb, pastor of Liberty EMC Church, cut the dedication ribbon at Sunday’s Church dedication. Liberty CME, in Lafayette, was rebuilt and reopened on Sunday after arsonists set fire to the building in February 2009.
“I reckon I’m as happy (today) as I was sad the day of the fire,” said Samuel Moss, an officer at Liberty and the chair of the trustee board at the church.
Parishioners have been worshiping at Sweet Hope CME Church in Cusseta. It was a sweet homecoming on Sunday. The service began with a ribbon cutting at the front of the church. Two choirs, one from Mt. Zion CME and another from St. Luke’s CME provided the music.
Now that the new structure is finished, it’s time to plan for the future, said the Rev. Shelia Crabb, pastor at Liberty. The church will begin having Sunday school and Bible study again. Neither have taken place since the fire.
“What the devil did, God turned around,” Crabb said, gesturing with her hands to the new building. The old building was about 175-years-old.
George Green, owner of The Green Construction Company, rebuilt the church. He donated the new steeple, the PA system, piano and built stands for speakers in the church.
“All the bad things that’s been done, all the good things are going to overshadow it,” he said.
Meanwhile, four people have been charged with arson in the Liberty church fire, as well as two other area church fires in the same time period.
Christopher M. Ware, Taylor H. Jennings, Phillip J. Chapman and Cody L. Jasper, all 20, have been charged, each with two counts of second-degree arson and third-degree burglary in Chambers County, and one count each of second-degree arson and third-degree burglary in Lee County, according to the state fire marshal’s office.
In addition to Liberty CME Church, fires destroyed Union Hill CME Church in the Oak Bowery community in Chambers County and damaged Pitts Chapel United Methodist Church near Salem in Lee County.
