A new beginning for New Beginnings

July 6, 2007.
New Beginnings Church in Walton County lost their church in a tragic fire — a fire caused by a lightning strike three weeks prior.
It is believed an area in the attic smoldered until it finally caught fire, and the church burned to the ground.
“The fire began some time after 6:30,” Pastor Louis Taunton told The Log. “No one was in the building and thank God no one was hurt.”
According to reports at the time, officials stated that firefighters were hampered by low water pressure and faulty fire hydrants as they tried to save at least a part of the church.
Everything was a total loss in the church, built in 2001, but more was lost than just a building.
“The most important things were the things that cannot be replaced, such as two handmade guitars that belonged to me and one of our members,” he said.
“Pictures of the church and activities that have gone on throughout the years. Material things can be replaced, but some things have a lasting importance due to sentimental value.”
Although insurance did not totally cover the cost of rebuilding, individual donations and other churches helped to cover the expenses.
The church hired a construction crew to rebuild, but it was church members who did the cleaning inside and out, as well as the painting on the inside and interior wood trim.
The new 8,000 square foot sanctuary can seat 300, and many items in the church were purchased by members and donated.
“The mural over the baptistery was painted by Barbara Dockery of Mary Esther,” Taunton said. “She is an outstanding artist.”
The building also contains two nursery rooms, Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall. Work still remains on parts of the building and will be done by church members.
“The loss of the building was a devastating blow to the congregation,” Taunton said. “But this loss has drawn the church family closer than ever before. We are so thankful for where we are today and we are looking forward to what God has in store for us in the future. A church is not the building, but the people who make up the congregation.”
New Beginnings has been holding services for the last year at Portland Community Center and is thankful to be home again.
The church, off Hwy. 20 in Freeport, will hold its reopening dedication service exactly one year later — at 2 p.m. July 6. Brother Don Shoots of Central Pentecostal Church of Lynn Haven, Fla., will be the guest speaker. Everyone is invited to attend the celebration of their new beginning.
Taunton and his congregation remain optimistic and believe the church will be bigger and better than ever.
“A very wise man once told me ‘never judge a tragedy the day it happens — wait to see what God can do with it.’ This has been an inspiration to many of us.”