The pastor is calling for support.
A pastor in Virginia is asking for prayers from his community after a significant explosion severely damaged his historic church, Forest Level Baptist Church. The blast, which was so powerful it shook nearby homes, occurred late on Monday night and left the 151-year-old church with major structural damage. Pastor Marcin Wilson expressed gratitude that no one was injured, despite the explosion causing a large hole in the church’s first floor and fire in the basement. He assured the community that the church plans to rebuild, though they are still in the early stages of assessing the damage and determining their needs.
The explosion was caused by a leak of liquid petroleum gas (LP gas) in the church’s basement, which partially filled the first floor. Bedford Fire Marshal Leo George explained that when an appliance in the church ignited the gas, it led to the explosion. Fire officials are still investigating which appliance was responsible for sparking the fire, though they believe it was an accidental incident. While the blast caused significant damage to the church’s structure, no injuries were reported, and officials expressed relief that no one was harmed.
Neighbors living near the church were shaken by the explosion. Carly Hunt, who lives across the street, described feeling as though her house had been hit by a vehicle due to the violent shaking. Evelyn Read, a long-time church member and neighbor, shared how heartbroken she felt, recalling the many memories and programs held at the church over the years. She described the explosion as feeling like an earthquake or a blast of dynamite, noting the sadness it brought to the community.
Pastor Wilson acknowledged the emotional toll the explosion had on the congregation but emphasized that it would not stop the church’s mission. He spoke of the church’s rich heritage and vowed to rebuild, stating that the church’s work will continue as planned. Wilson expressed gratitude for the community’s support and prayers during this challenging time and assured that the church would focus on moving forward and continuing the work it has been called to do.