BUFORD, Ga. — Just days after a Thanksgiving night fire destroyed their historic building, the congregation of First Pentecostal Church of Buford gathered for worship in borrowed space, declaring their faith remains unshaken.
Buford Church of God opened its doors to host the displaced congregation, allowing them to hold their first Sunday service since the blaze. Pastor Jordan Copeland, whose family has long led the church, delivered a message of resilience and hope, titled “Living in the Fire.”
“We would have had church today if we were in a tent,” Copeland said, underscoring the congregation’s unwavering commitment to worship despite the tragedy.
The fire ruined much of the historic structure, leaving only remnants behind. Brad Mayer, a member of the church for nearly 30 years, described the destruction as painful but noted a silver lining: no one was hurt.
“I had an office in there that was somewhat unscathed, miraculously, but the main part of the sanctuary is just gutted,” Mayer said.
He added that the church normally meets on Thursday, but instead members had gathered earlier that day and had left the building before the fire began.
“We were there earlier in the day for Thanksgiving dinner we were doing for the community," Mayer said.
Copeland, who succeeded his late father as pastor, said the loss was deeply personal. His dad passed away from dementia last year and the church has left his office untouched — a poignant memory now reduced to ashes.
"We had set up, what I called, a legacy office for him. We had left his office just as it was, but we added a lot to it," Copeland said. "Everything that was precious to us, that reminded us of him: his, his trumpet, his altar, his books, his notes — all of that was in that office. And it was was an inferno."
The fire displaced the congregation, but Copeland said support poured in almost immediately, with over 10 pastors offering spaces for worship. He recounted how a few members inside the building when the fire began escaped just minutes before the roof collapsed.
“Fire of the world — natural fire consumes, but God’s fire reveals,” he said, reflecting on the symbolic power of the ordeal.
Even as the rebuilding process begins, the next generation is already looking ahead. Copeland shared that his son already has plans for the future.
“My 6-year-old, last night, came down and showed me where he’d been drawing in a book," Copeland said. "And he'd drawn pictures of our... the thing he's interested in is designing the playground for the new church. So, he's got that handled already."
The church plans to meet with their insurance company this week to chart a path forward. Despite the challenges, Copeland expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support and faith in divine provision.
“We believe God is going to work everything out alright,” he said.
For now, the congregation continues to lean on each other and their shared belief that their church is more than a building.