Faith in Action

About a year ago, I received calls at work on a storm-cloud filled day with news on the other line that one of Baltimore’s most historic churches had been struck by lightning. I jumped in the car and drove to the church and joined hundreds of others who gathered at the smoldering building trying to make sense of what happened. Tears, cheers, songs, and prayers went up as the faithful and the curious watched in amazement as the billows of smoke rose higher yet into the sky.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, news reports began to surface about the church’s financial struggles and gifts that the church had given their pastor - the most scrutinized of which was a bentley automobile.

One year later the smoke has cleared and in this WBAL news report, Bishop Oscar Brown talks about where the church is now - debt free and looking forward to a new building in 2010.

Yesterday afternoon in Baltimore a severe thunderstorm settled over the area and in the midst of the storm lightning struck the steeple of the First Mount Olive Freewill Baptist Church.  The strike unsettled the steeple and caused it to fall down into the church where a fire erupted.  Fire crews on the scene were restrained to fighting the blaze from outside of the building as going inside was determined to be too dangerous.  Those who were in the building, including Bishop Oscar Brown, were quickly alerted to evacuate.  Thankfully, there were no human casualties.  The 2 million dollar church, however, was said to be a total loss. 

There will be a meeting today for the leadership of First Mt. Olive at the New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore at 1pm (4501 1/2 Old Frederick Road). A meeting for the general body of First Mt. Olive will be held tonight at 7pm at New Psalmist.

Please keep Bishop Oscar Brown and the entire First Mt. Olive FWB Church in your prayers and stay tuned to receive further details as they unfold.