Will Alaska Governor Sarah Palin be in attendance on Sunday morning, February 1st, when Pastor Larry Kroon takes to the pulpit again in Palin’s home church, Wasilla Bible Church? The non-denominational evangelical Christian church will resume services in their own building on that date, seven weeks after a fire destroyed much of the building.
Although Governor Palin worships regularly at an Assembly of God Church in Juneau when she is in town, she says she enjoys returning to her home congregation, the Wasilla Bible Church, whenever possible.
7 Weeks After a Suspicious Church Fire
A suspicious fire damaged the Wasilla Bible Church, of Wasilla, Alaska, on Friday, December 12, 2008.
Finally, seven weeks and more than a million dollars later, the 1,000-member church plans to reopen for worship services and Christian education on the first of February. The doors of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s home church are scheduled to open for the Lord’s business on Sunday, February 1st, according to church sources.
Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with ministries for adults, children, middle schoolers and teens, the church reported. Wasilla Bible Church members (such as the Palins), regular attendees and visitors will sit in the modern building on folding chairs, reading hymn and chorus song lyrics from large video screens and singing along with the electric guitars and high-energy worship team.
During the interim, while repairs were being made, the Wasilla Bible Church was meeting at the Wasilla Middle School, where the congregation had previously held services during the construction of their current church facility.
Arson Confirmed
According to various news sources, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) uncovered ignitable accelerants around the Wasilla Bible Church facility, confirming suspicions of arson. The chemical had been placed near the exits and entrances of the building, as well as along the walls.
A handful of female church staff members and a couple of children were inside the Wasilla Bible Church building when the fire broke out on December 12, 2008. Fortunately, no one was injured.
The fire resulted in more than $1 million in physical damages to the Wasilla Bible Church facility.
Wasilla Bible Church staffers have indicated that the church’s insurance coverage is expected to finance the bulk of the repairs and cleanup.
Grants and donations totaling $100,000 will fund an improved security system for the Wasilla Bible Church, according to Associated Press reports.
The Alaska State Crime Laboratory is still investigating the matter. To date, no evidence has been found to indicate any link to alleged detractors of Governor Sarah Palin or her recent candidacy for the Vice Presidency of the United States.
Sources:
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/13/politics/main4667513.shtml
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/13/politics/main4667513.shtml
http://wasillabible.org/
http://wasillabible.org/normal_index.htm
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ATF-Joins-Church-Arson-Investigation/story.aspx?guid={3CD432C8-0AC2-44C8-90A7-288F55A7FD14}
http://www.onenewsnow.com/Church/Default.aspx?id=403508
