OSKALOOSA — A fire, originating in the basement of the Oskaloosa First Church of the Nazarene, claimed the church building Saturday night as firefighters battled the blaze early into the morning.

“It looks to be a total loss,” said Oskaloosa Fire Chief Frank Glandon at an impromptu press conference during the fire.

According to Glandon, the Oskaloosa Fire Department was called out at 7:01 p.m. to The Oskaloosa First Church of the Nazarene, 300 S. 11th St. Four more fire departments had been called to the scene: New Sharon, Fremont, Eddyville and Ottumwa. A number of other agencies were helping out as well.

The fire originated in the basement in the area of the furnace room then worked its way up to the area of the sanctuary.

He said that a person was at the church readying it for a prayer meeting when smoke was discovered.

He said that no one was in the building at the time of the fire, so there was no fear of injuries in that regard.

Also, at the time of the press conference, no injuries were reported from the personnel.

The health of the firefighters was at the forefront of the church’s mind, according to the Oskaloosa Nazarene Church Board Secretary Joe Milledge.

“Our immediate concern is the safety of the firefighters, obviously, and we want to stay out of their way so that they can do their work,” he said. “Secondarily, our concern is also for our congregation and that they have a place to meet and worship and we also have a concern for the safety of the premises after the fire is put out because this will be a hazardous area.”

Milledge said that the church’s campus was more than just one building. Five other buildings encompass the block.

Though when asked whether church would be held in another building, he said that arrangements had been made at an 8:30 p.m. church board meeting that Sunday’s church service would be held at George Daily Auditorium.

A pastor from Fellowship Bible Church, who had a child in the Missoula Children’s Theatre performance at George Daily Auditorium Saturday night, got word of what had transpired and asked Wright if it would be OK if the Nazarene church could use the auditorium’s facilities for worship.

He agreed. Phone calls were made and it happened.

Wright said that this is just how things are in Oskaloosa “with people collaborating together and sharing their resources freely and that’s why the community’s able to do the things it does.”

But this isn’t the only thing on the church’s mind. The church has had an interim pastor and has been looking for a new minister.

Pastor Dave Childers has been happy to fill that role for four and a half months, and addressed his feelings concerning the fire Saturday night.

“Our people have a tremendous sense of loss, but it re-emphasizes again that the church is not a building,” Childers said. “The church is God’s love for hearts of people.”

According to Childers, the congregation just got done celebrating their 90th anniversary, but remained steadfast when he said, “We’re marching toward a 100 and believe the greatest days for this church are still in the future.”

He, along with Milledge expressed their gratitude to those helping in the battle to get the fire out.

The next morning at ‘church’

That future started the next day at Oskaloosa’s George Daily Auditorium.

People packed the make-shift church as they prepared for worship Sunday.

The service started with Pastor Childers speaking.

“The church building is a total loss,” he said, but emphasized that they weren’t here just to talk about that, they were there for worship.

That the church did.

Songs flooded the auditorium as people sang:

“Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary

Pure and holy, tried and true

With thanksgiving, I’ll be a living

Sanctuary for you.”

Not long after more songs and prayer, Milledge got up to say a few words.

He led off with speaking about driving past the church’s remains that morning and seeing the church sign, still intact, as it said, “Count your blessings, not your problems.”

With that, he spoke to the kids reassuring them that everything was going to be all right.

He then let the church know about a number they could call, a local number, (641) 969-7999, for information concerning their church, since the communication system was down.

He also let them know about a service to be held at the Christian Life Center, another of the buildings on the church’s campus, to be held at 6 p.m. Sunday night.

Concerning the actual remains of the building, he said that the state fire marshal has taken possession of it.

He also let the church know that the board had decided Thursday to nominate Childers to be their next pastor. Auditorium-wide applause followed.

A vote for this will take place next Sunday.

Soon after, Childers got up to deliver his sermon concerning fire.

Not just physical fire, though that was indeed touched on, but the fire inside of a Christian. He warned that Christians need to keep the fire burning inside.

He told the story of the burning bush and Moses and how God got Moses’ attention.

He told of the fire on the tongues of the apostles found in the book of Acts, chapter two.

In keeping with his illustration, he hearkened back to the night before as he watched the church’s steeple succumb to the flames and fall into the sanctuary.

He was reminded of the reasoning behind the structure of the steeple. A dove, which in Christianity represents the Holy Spirit, was placed at the top.

He said that the steeple falling was an example of the Spirit of God not afraid of going into the fire and making something out of the situation.

As he got near to the end of his sermon he said, “I don’t know what the next step is going to be, I just know He’s going to be faithful, to me and to you,” he said.

Lisa Munn, a New Sharon City Council member, who’s been attending the church for 25 years, seemed to agree with the pastor and said that she thinks that the church will rebuild and good will come of it.

Gary Staggs, who has been attending the church since 1979, echoes the same thoughts. He says the church was full of many memories for him including his marriage “but in the same way, it’s the start of a new beginning.”

12:30 p.m. press conference

Though the church was looking for a new start, the old business of the still-smoking rubble had to be attended to.

A press conference was held at the Oskaloosa Fire Department on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. where a press release was issued.

The release mentioned that 40 firefighters from five departments helped in fighting the fire: Oskaloosa, New Sharon, Eddyville, Fremont and Ottumwa.

The release also thanked all who were involved in helping out in the process of helping with the fire fight including: the Oskaloosa Police Department, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Posse, Mahaska County Emergency Management, the Oskaloosa Water Department, the Oskaloosa Street Department, the Mahaska County Chapter of the Red Cross, the Firefighter’s Auxiliary Support Team and Musco Mobile Lighting.

“No cause for the fire has been determined and the incident is under investigation,” read Glandon. “The Iowa State Fire Marshal’s office has been contacted to assist in the investigation.”

He continued, “There is no suspicion of arson, but the fire marshal’s office will provide expertise in the investigation. The church building was a total loss estimated in the millions.”

When asked when such an investigation were to take place, Glandon said, “The investigator for this area has another fire that he is on right now investigating, but I hope to see him in either tomorrow (Monday) or the next day.”

According to the press release, firefighters were at the scene until 5 a.m., Sunday morning.

Also, there was a report of a firefighter having to go to Mahaska Health Partnership for a puncture wound in the hand, but that firefighter has since been treated and released.

The press release concluded by saying that law enforcement will stay on the scene for the purpose of security in guarding the remains.

At the CLC, Sunday night

In the shadow of the remnants of the once-proud church building, people poured into the Christian Life Center, or CLC, for fellowship and to get ready for the service to be held at 6 p.m. Sunday night.

When the service started, Childers got up to inform those in attendance that for the next two weeks, the church is going to meet at George Daily, though anything past that is still up in the air.

Not long after some singing, the district superintendent for the Nazarene Churches in Iowa, the Rev. Garey Miller, got up to speak.

His message, at least in part, had to do with “the Lord’s timing.”

He indicated that Childers seemed to be the right man for the job.

After all, Childers came from building stock (his father built houses, among other things), and Childers, himself, saw through a church in Pella as it was built.

Miller did add that much praying still had to be done before Childers became full-time pastor.

Soon after, Childers again got up to speak urging prayer for the upcoming events and said “So, this is the beginning of the long journey.”

Hearkening on his church-building experience he warned the people about how hard it would be.

He said that exciting times were ahead, “but you never do a great work for God without a significant cost.”

He urged the people to pray that night for a number of things.

In large groups, the people did just that.

They prayed about the future that awaited them.

Soon after, they dismissed with the Doxology:

“Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.”

Herald Assistant Editor Jared McNeill can be reached through e-mail at jmcneill@oskyherald.com