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Charlotte, N.C. — Fire investigators say a fire at a church in NoDa is no accident.
Police believe someone broke into the Temple of Refuge Church of the Living God on E. 15th St. at 3:00 AM and sparked the flames that destroyed the building’s sanctuary.
The Pastor of the church, Nuwayne Dunlap, was overwhelmed by the damage.
“I just want to scream. I just want to scream,” said Dunlap. “I don’t know where I’m going to take the flock.”
Two days earlier, the sound of hymns filled his sanctuary. Now, it’s the sound of water dripping from the charred ceiling.
“Why, you know? Why? Why would somebody want to do that to us?” said Dunlap.
Police haven’t pinned down the arsonists, but say a tow truck driver saw smoke billowing from the building before dawn and called 911. Slowly that morning, church goers like Teresa Mason started finding out.
“I cried when I first saw it, because to actually go in and see the type of damage,” said Mason.
I would have been Bible study Tuesday night. Instead, they cleared what they could from the debris: a few hymnals, Bibles.
Memories flooded back to Miriam Washburn. She buried her mother there last year.
“It’s a sad day for the temple,” said Washburn. “They may have destroyed our church, but they didn’t break our spirit.”
The damage weighed heavy on the leader of the 150 member church.
“We were a growing congregation, growing in the community, food bank, clothing bank. Now, we need help,” said Dunlap.
If you would like to help the church, you can donate at the Sun Trust Bank under the Temple of Refuge account. If you know any information about the arson, call Crime Stoppers. You could receive a cash reward.
