A devastating fire (June 13), destroyed most of Zion Hill Baptist Church in the Friendship Community near Dyersburg.
The blaze consumed the sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, and foyer of the historic building whose congregation has served the community for over 130 years.
“By the time I got there, it was fully engaged all the way across the foyer, the sanctuary, and the kitchen area,” said Phill Hall, interim director of missions for the Dyer Baptist Association and former interim pastor of Zion Hill. Hall and his wife rushed to the scene after receiving word of the fire.
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A mail delivery person discovered the fire after noticing smoke from around the roof and foyer area. Multiple fire departments responded to the emergency, including the local Friendship volunteer department and Dyersburg’s tower truck with specialized equipment to battle the blaze from above.
Despite the coordinated efforts of multiple fire departments over two and a half hours, the only surviving structure was a separate children’s building with four classrooms, connected to the main building by a breezeway.
“You see the devastation. It’s like being punched in the gut. But at the same time, knowing that we’re not hurting without hope,” said pastor Bob Dennison.
‘Why now’
Dennison and his wife Stephanie are leading the congregation through this difficult time.
“There’s grief, there’s anger, there’s doubt, there’s a lot of the why this, why now,” said Dennison who’s been pastor of Zion Hill since June 2024. “But at the same time, I think our folks have done a really good job of recognizing that what we lost was the building. Whether we’re meeting in a tent, at the parking lot, or in a borrowed building, our ministry still goes forward.”
The timing was particularly heartbreaking for the congregation.
“The church had just finished a great [Vacation Bible School] and the fire happened the next day,” said Danny Sinquefield, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s Harvest Field 1 leader, who met at the church site with the Dennisons for prayer. “I think the congregation has responded with unity and a strong sense of trust in the Lord for the future.”
Sinquefield emphasized the community’s strength in the midst of heartbreak. “There is certainly a sense of grief for the loss of property and history. But the people are pulling together in a beautiful way.”
The congregation, usually 40 to 50 people on Sundays, is actively working to secure a temporary worship location. The Sunday after the fire, they met at the Friendship Community Center, but Dennison said they will probably meet at the Friendship Methodist Church or another Baptist church in the association.
“Our association has been terrific,” said Dennison. “One of the things that I love about being a Southern Baptist is when we pull together like this.”
Hall said the congregation is committed to rebuilding on the building’s original site, planning to “remove the debris and start all over again with a new facility.”
‘Its mission will endure’
Meanwhile, local authorities have also rallied around the congregation. Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box issued a statement expressing deep sympathy: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the church leadership, its members, and everyone affected by this unfortunate incident. While the physical structure is gone, the spirit of the church and its mission will endure.”
Dennison echoed this sentiment. “It’s kind of an opportunity to celebrate God’s faithfulness to the church that passed, but also an opportunity to step into what God has now and next for the church.
“This can either be a stumbling block or a steppingstone. What we’re trying to make sure our people understand is that this isn’t the end; it’s a season. So what’s next?”
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Zoë Watkins and originally published by the Baptist and Reflector.
