Church holds service despite Beryl damage

ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. -

An Atlantic Beach church held services Sunday morning despite a hole in its roof left by Tropical Storm Beryl.

Freedom Independent Baptist Church on Levy Road suffered damage last week during the tropical storm.

Hours after Beryl made landfall, Chris War, the pastor at the church, and his wife arrived at the church on Monday morning.

They first noticed a big tree branch on the ground. Then they saw a huge hole in the church's roof.

"I went to the second floor and I looked through the window and I was like, 'Oh, no,'" said War.

War's office is now without carpet. Earlier in the week, buckets collecting rainwater lined the floor.

"The water was just coming through inside and it was just such a mess," he said.

War and his family purchased the building and moved in a year ago. Freedom Independent Baptist Church has a small congregation of about 60 people. The church appeals to military families in Mayport.

"We all love each other. I mean it's a family. It's a family just as it should be," said Amber Bollinger, a parishioner. "You know everybody at first was a little shocked, 'Oh no. What's going to happen with the building?'"

"There's damage but God's gonna take care of the church. The workers here just need to do his will, and get done whatever needs to get done," added Mike Bollinger.

War told his congregation to begin saving because he's not counting on insurance money to help. War said his insurance company will pay for the damages, but it is asking for a $25,000 deductible, something the church can't afford.

"That's a lot of money. I don't know how businesses are suppose to do that," said War.

For now, a tarp is keeping his office dry. War considers himself lucky.

"Drop ceiling was falling in and we have some furniture is just ruined. But you know, God is so good. My books that are really important, my pictures that are really important that can't be replaced, especially the pictures, didn't even get wet at all," said War.

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