While the Sunday morning sun beat down on The Pilgrim Center's scorched remains, workers and volunteers got to work.
They opened two tents, unfolded eight rows of chairs, set up microphones and speakers.
“It’s terrible,” said Jean-Jethro Pierre, a church member seeing the destruction for the first time. He walked his children past the piles of rubble over to the tents across the street.
Some 40 worshipers came together in their Sunday best, passing water bottles and towels to keep cool in the sweltering heat.
“We here to pray [to] God and to make sure everything okay,” Pierre said in a Creole accent.
About 60 firefighters battled the heavy smoke and flames as a fire erupted last week at The Eglise Evangelique Des Pelerins, or Pilgrim Evangelical Church on NW 13th Avenue and 119th Street. Neighbors believe kids setting off fireworks sparked the flames.
The congregation is getting help from strangers to help rebuild.
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Guillermo Martinez, who owns a sound business, said before the fire, he had never heard of the church.
“Me and my wife looked at each other,” said Martinez, “we had to do something.”
He brought the audio equipment for preaching and singing; including amps and a mixer.
“That was a big blessing,” said Pastor James Pasteurin, who said his congregation will hold church every Sunday under a tent or somewhere, until their building is rebuilt.
The church is accepting donations which can be mailed to The Pilgrim Center PO BOX 680-507 North Miami, FL 33168.
