WILLIAMSTOWN, Mo. – Just shy of a year since the former church building and parsonage were destroyed in fire, Providence Baptist Church in Lewis County in northeast Missouri has a new place to call home.
The fire, believed to have been arson, destroyed the church structure and the parsonage a quarter mile away, Jan. 4, 2024. But on Christmas Eve 2024, they held their first service in the new 10,800-square-foot, single level building near where the parsonage had stood. The parsonage won’t be rebuilt.
“There’s still some little things to do (to finish up), and we need to budget for rock on the driveway. But we’re using the sanctuary, fellowship hall and classrooms,” Pastor James Leezer said.
“We want Christ to have the glory,” he said.
Leezer said 141 people attended the Christmas Eve service.
They also held their first Sunday service Dec. 29, but were snowed out Jan. 5, 2025.
Until things are settled a little more, the church will only hold worship services, and those are at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays.
MK (Michael and Keith) Phillips Construction of Lurary donated the framing for the new structure, and Kahoka Lumber provided materials. Bethel Association Director of Missions Al Groner helped in oversight.
“It’s hard to recognize everybody who helped – our association (Mt.Salem/Wyaconda Southern Baptist Association), our churches prayed and gave money, other individuals helped. We truly appreciate all who prayed, first and foremost, and all who gave to the building,” Leezer said.
In the interim, the congregation met at the Williamstown Fire Station, a branch of the Canton R-V Fire Department, who was the first department responding to last year’s blaze.
The case remains open and no arrests have been made.
Leezer said a dedication will be held in the spring, with a date to be determined, but it won’t be on a Sunday, so other area church people can attend.
WILLIAMSTOWN – Providence Baptist Church is opening their new house of worship, which they built after a fire destroyed their previous building last January. (Photo courtesy of Providence Baptist Church)
