CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Members of the congregation at the Keystone Apostolic Church are finding their way forward. The church sanctuary was destroyed in last week’s mudslide along Charleston’s Keystone Drive when the hillside at the end of the Yeager Airport runway collapsed. The slow slide eventually covered the main church building leaving little more than a pile of debris in its wake.
“We were able to get back in there and recover a few items,” said Pastor James Chessor on MetroNews Talkline Tuesday. “There were several Bibles recovered and we had a large wooden engraving display of the Ten Commandments which we were able to recover flawless. We were very thankful for that.”
Sunday’s worship service was moved to the clubhouse at Coonskin Park nearby. It was an emotional gathering.
“The message I prepared was the church still stands. We may have lost a building, but our church is our congregation and our people,” said Chessor. “After all we’ve suffered and been through that was the first opportunity to get everybody together. There were tears shed and obviously it was a very emotional service, but it was very good and we’re thankful we’ve had the opportunity to come together.”
Chessor said for the time being, services will be held at Coonskin, but he indicated there had been an outpouring of support from other churches in the area. Several offered up their property and their sanctuary for the Keystone Apostolic members to hold worship services. Some even offered to adjust their Sunday morning schedule to accommodate the suffering flock.
Chessor said while the loss of the church building is an immediate concern, his bigger concern lies with some members of the congregation who also live along Keystone Drive. Some of them lost not only their church, but their home and everything they own as well.
“It’s very difficult when you lose your home and your church in the same week,” he said. “I’m offering as much support as I can personally for those individuals in our church.”