CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — In the face of adversity, the spirit of Mount Calvary Missionary Baptist Church in Champaign shone brightly this past Sunday, as the congregation found a way to come together for worship despite a recent fire that affected their sanctuary.

Last Wednesday, firefighters were called to the church around midday, responding to alarming reports of thick black smoke billowing from the roof. The incident left the church building damaged, yet it could not dampen the resolve of its community.

On Sunday, senior pastor John Porter addressed his congregation, emphasizing that the essence of the church lies not in its structure, but in its people. “We’re just believing in God, and we’re standing on our faith that he’s going to bring us out of this,” Porter expressed, underscoring the resilience and unity of his parishioners.

Porter acknowledged the emotional toll the past week had taken, yet he remains hopeful and committed to leading his community through this challenging time.

Porter said that it’s been a very emotional week.

“When I got the call Wednesday, I was in disbelief. I didn’t want to believe it,” Porter added.

One part of the church came out unscathed, he said.

“We are gathering in our fellowship hall. The damage stayed in the sanctuary,” Porter said.

Initially, church leaders thought the cost of damages was going to be around $300,000, but Porter believes that number is climbing.

“It has really impacted us in a major way,” he said.

On Sunday, the church had no water or power. People even had to wear masks so they didn’t breathe in smoke residue.

Porter said that he had a sermon planned for last Sunday, but he wasn’t able to preach it, and he doesn’t think it was a coincidence.

“I think God held it out for this week, and it was called, ‘My setback was a setup for my comeback.’ And so that’s what we are now,” Porter said. “It’s just a little, small setback and is setting us up for us to come back.”

Porter added that they’re not going anywhere, and they will rebuild the church even better than before.

“We know that at the end of the day, this is just a building, you know. It’s in our hearts where we really worship it,” Porter said. “But, I wanted us to see what the enemy tried to do, but he didn’t stop us from worshiping together. So, we’re here today to let him know, ‘You lost. You did not win,’” he said.

Church leaders said that no one was hurt in the fire, and the cause of it is still unknown. The Champaign Police and Fire Departments are continuing to investigate.