SLIDELL – A fund has been set up to help Bayou Baptist Church in Slidell with rebuilding costs following a fire on Oct. 22.
According to Pastor Frank Treme, the fire which he believes to have been arson caused extensive damage to all of the buildings on the church grounds.
The fire destroyed a part of the building that houses classrooms, a nursery and the kitchen.
While the sanctuary did not burn to the ground, the interior sustained a significant amount of damage from the smoke and water.
“We have brought in the adjustors and engineers and it looks as if none of the buildings can be saved,” Treme told the Message. “We are going to demolish all of the buildings and rebuild back again on this spot.
“We did it once with God’s provision and we will do it again because we are faithful to Him,” said Treme.
“Right now we are proceeding slowly to see what the cost will be for the demolition and the rebuilding,” Treme continued. “We are a small congregation so to help with some of those costs not taken care of by insurance an account has been set up at Whitney Bank and anyone who would like to donate to our rebuilding efforts can go to any branch in the state and say this donation is for Bayou Baptist Church.”
Whitney Bank has branches conveniently located across the Gulf South. In Louisiana there are 110 locations with most of them located south of Alexandria.
Meanwhile, the congregation is holding worship services temporarily in a building about four miles from the church on Robert Boulevard in Slidell.
This is the second time in 10 years the church is going to rebuild a new sanctuary. After Hurricane Katrina heavily damaged its sanctuary, volunteers from throughout the US came to help in the effort.
But just like before, Treme said his congregation of 50 will come together and rise to the occasion.
