Clarks Summit’s Heritage Baptist Church Roof Collapses

Posted February 19, 2007 in Association News, GARBCnews, Web Exclusive

As the result of a 21-inch snowfall in the Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, area, the roof over the family room section of Heritage Baptist Church’s edifice collapsed during the night of February 16 (Friday), or early on the 17th. The section is used for Awana, wedding receptions, social events, and storage. Associate Pastor Rob Hammaker noticed a strong gas odor when he arrived at his church office Saturday morning. He soon discovered the damage. Lost were a piano, some chairs, and the use of that part of the building, including some connecting rooms in a new educational wing. Within minutes emergency and utilities personnel from the community—as well as a number of church members and BBC college students, who came over to help remove snow from the rest of the roof of the building—responded to a call from Hammaker. BBC also brought over a front-end loader to help with extra snow removal. The church is thankful that no one was in the building when the roof collapsed. On most Saturdays the section of the building is used by various church groups and activities.

The church canceled the first service and Sunday School on Sunday, but the second morning service went on as planned, with TV crews present from three different networks. (Listen to Pastor Culver’s Sunday morning message, “Be Still and Know,” on Psalm 46.)

The church leadership team of pastors, deacons, and building committee members met Sunday evening to discuss the situation and to develop an ongoing ministry strategy, in part to accommodate Sunday School classes and other ministry schedules.

The insurance adjuster arrived on Monday, and the family room section will need to be razed. The church’s plan is to rebuild as soon as possible. However, the church is also considering this event as a God-given opportunity to facilitate greater ministry at Heritage.

The church thanks everyone for praying. Realizing that the roof might have collapsed during an activity or a Sunday service, the congregation is especially thankful to the Lord that no one was present during the crash and that no one was hurt. Pastor Hammaker stated, “The church lost part of the building, but the church didn’t collapse—the church is people.” Hammaker noted the tremendous response of the people in so many helpful ways, from shoveling snow off the rest of the roof, to providing food for workers, to sorting out items and finding storage places for them. Fortunately, the church hasn’t had to “cancel much of anything,” according to Hammaker, who also noted that there actually is a sense of excitement over what God has for them through the experience.