Wildfires destroy Kokomo church, prompt outpouring of ministry

Posted: 1/06/06

Kokomo Baptist Church near Gorman is pictured before and after the fire that destroyed its facility. For information on Baptist General Convention of Texas relief efforts for victims of the wildfires, call (888) 311-3900.

Wildfires destroy Kokomo church,
prompt outpouring of ministry

By John Hall

Texas Baptist Communications

GORMAN–Wildfires that swept across thousands of acres in North Texas burned down Kokomo Baptist Church, near Gorman.

While members of the church were preventing wildfires from destroying homes in their community, a fire turned their church into a “pile of rubble” Dec. 31, Deacon Woodrow Browning said.

Church members remained upbeat despite losing their facilities, Browning said. The church has successfully overcome this situation before. The most recent fire happened 37 years ago after an apparent electrical fire burned down the church.

The facilities were rebuilt then and can be rebuilt again, he noted.

“God is already working in it,” Browning said. “We've got to stick together. We're a close-knit group.”

First Baptist Church in Gorman, First Baptist Church in Cross Plains and Huckabay Baptist Church in Stephenville were among congregations that provided shelter or supplies to families impacted by the wildfires.

At least 50 people received clothes, food or other supplies from First Baptist Church in Gorman, said Interim Pastor Barry Schahn, and the church made a commitment to meet any needs brought to its attention.

If needy families “don't see (what they need), they write it on a piece of paper, and we make some calls and get it,” he said, adding other congregations helped keep supplies stocked at his church.

“We've been trained to give and not expect anything back. We're God's people set at the gate to help those without clothes, without food,” Schahn said.