JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A community is picking up the pieces after fire ripped through a church on Jacksonville's northwest side.
On Saturday, Greater Grant Memorial AME Church suffered significant damage from a fire and will be unable to use their building for the foreseeable future, but the inability to use a building isn't stopping them from holding a Christmas service.
A look inside the fellowship hall of Greater Grant Memorial AME Church shows the significant damage sustained in Saturday's fire.
"When it broke out the fire immediately found where it could have access, which was in the crawl spaces of the fellowship hall," Pastor Micah Sims said.
Crumbled insulation littered the floors, water damage from where the fire was put out lingered and a solitary Christmas tree stood amongst the debris as a reminder of Christmas potentially ruined by a devastating fire.
"The first thing that went through my mind, is everybody safe," said Sims.
Everybody was safe and as Sims propped doors and windows to let out the smell of smoke, the thought went towards Christmas services.
"We'll have Christmas in the courtyard," Sims said, "we'll have a brief worship service, we'll give out presents to the kids as we do annually at Greater Grant. We'll love on each other, shed some tears, but then also be encouraged by the fact that no life was lost."
Smoke damage in the sanctuary prevented anyone from sitting in the pews, so they came with lawn chairs and made their own rows. A Christmas service on their own terms, together.
"What we learned through covid is that the church isn't a building, but the church are the people," said Sims.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Sims estimates it may take a few months before everything is back to normal, but at least on this day, Christmas Eve, his community found a way.
"That's what Greater Grant is, we are the community," said Sims.