The pastors at Evangelistic Center Church told 41 Action News it's not just a sanctuary that the congregation lost or a historic building that Kansas City lost. It's a place the community lost because Evangelistic Center Church was where people met every single week for Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, and it was where a clothing drive was underway until a fire destroyed it all.
Because the church was a pillar for the community, the pastors are working to get services and outreach back up and running as soon as possible.
“We are between City Union Mission and the Heartland Center and every day, someone walks past the building in need of something, so we see it. We see it every day, not just Sunday morning,” said assistant pastor Darrell Robinson.
That's why the pastors are working on a three step plan that includes making the building safe enough for demolition, having an insurance assessment, and getting the irreplaceable relics that weren't destroyed out of the building.
“This is the place my father, my grandfather, my grandmother -- I grew up as a kid going up and down the corridors,” said Pastor John Crane. His grandfather and father both served as preachers at the church. “It breaks your heart when you see it because it has so much history for me and my family, my kids and so many others in our church who grew up in it. It's just heartbreaking.”
What's also heartbreaking, said Crane, is that Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets and coats for a winter clothing drive were all destroyed. But he said gracious donors were already coming forward to help replace those items for the community members who depend on them.
“We are so blessed by the outpouring of the businesses, the community and all the pastors and churches that have poured out their compassion and love towards us,” said Crane. “It means so much.”
And yes, the sanctuary is gone, but the spirituality continues. After all, the pastors said, Evangelistic Center Church isn't the building, it's the people.
For the next four weeks, Sunday church services will be held at Nieman Elementary School at 10 a.m. In the meantime, the church will work to find another more permanent location.
The church is working to rebuild its community outreach in time for Thanksgiving, Christmas and the cold weather. If you are interested in donating, click here to see what the church needs and how you can help.
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Terra Hall can be reached at terra.hall@kshb.com.
