Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • SBC 2025
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Restored Church becomes safe haven for fire victims in Pennsylvania

  • February 22, 2022
  • Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey
  • Church Life, Disaster Relief, Latest News, New Jersey, Pennsylvania
After a devastating fire left more than 120 Wilkes-Barre residents homeless, Restored Church committed to providing shelter and resources for some of the victims.
(Courtesy of the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey)

Restored Church becomes safe haven for fire victims in Pennsylvania

It was a quick “yes” and a figure out the “how” later for Pastor Tim Walker and the members of Restored Church when they were asked to shelter 43 fire victims.

The Jan. 25 fire struck the heart of downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, when its flames damaged a six-floor apartment complex, taking one life and leaving 123 others displaced and homeless.

County agencies and local organizations immediately jumped into action, securing housing for 80 of the victims. However, this left more than 40 victims still without a home and the agencies in need of further emergency housing.

“There were still 43 adults that were displaced, without any timeline on when they were going to be able to get into permanent housing,” Walker said.

He noted: “From what I understand, many of those people had kind of just been couch surfing, where they tried to just stay on the couch of friends or family in the area, which obviously is not an ideal setup.”

‘Uniquely positioned’

After being contacted by Keystone Mission, Restored Church went to work to transform their building into an emergency shelter.

“Our church building was kind of uniquely positioned to be able to provide the housing,” Walker said.  “We’ve got separate classrooms for men and women to safely sleep, a full industrial kitchen where we could prepare and serve meals and then we also have showers on site in our church building.”

In addition to the church’s accommodations, the BRN’s disaster relief team also installed an on-site trailer with four shower stalls and a laundry facility. They also provided 50 fully packed disaster relief backpacks for the fire victims.

“We’re prepared, tentatively, to house them for one to four weeks,” Walker said. “The goal is that they get in permanent housing as quickly as possible. So, every day people are meeting with caseworkers trying to fill out paperwork [and] secure funding for housing. They’re contacting landlords, they’re going to look at apartments or houses [and] all of that.”

Walker added, “Most of these people would fall into the category of what I would consider to be the working core. Some  of them have jobs, some of them live on fixed incomes, but all of them were one paycheck away from homelessness.”

In order to help the victims contact the proper agencies and resources they need, Restored Church has invited different organizations and agencies to operate out of their upstairs space.

“So, the nice thing is that we’ve been able to operate as a one-stop-shop. Rather than people trying to exhaust themselves — you know, trying to figure out who they need to talk to, where they need to go, what agencies are available and accessible to them — everyone [is] staying downstairs and then upstairs county agencies are rotating throughout the day. So, all of the needs that they have can all be met right on site,” Walker said.

Keystone Rescue Mission is also present at the shelter, staffing it 24/7 and providing many of the material needs for the guests.

“They’ve been able to secure cots, bedding, basic hygiene needs [and] all of that kind of work. We’re simply a small part in a much larger picture,” Walker said.

‘Traumatized and shellshocked’

With most of the logistical needs met, Walker and the Restored Church community have shifted their focus to meeting the spiritual needs of the victims.

“We’ve been able to turn our attention to more relational and spiritual details and opportunities to be able to care well for people, not just by providing for their physical needs with shelter, but ultimately, seeking care for their spiritual needs as well,” Walker said.

During the day, Restored held worship services and daily discovery Bible studies for those who want to participate. In the evenings, they held special events, such as game nights, movie nights and recently, a Super Bowl party.

During the halftime show of the Super Bowl, a few members of Restored Church shared testimonies with the shelter guests, with the final person transitioning into the gospel. The guests then had an opportunity to respond and engage in spiritual conversations.

“They’ve had a hard and heavy couple of weeks, like they’re pretty traumatized and shellshocked. We’re being very sensitive to respect their space and privacy where they can get some of the time and space they need, but we’re also coupling that with opportunities as they’re able and willing to engage,” Walker said.

To learn more, visit https://restored.churchcenter.com/people/forms/344819.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This article was written by Macala Mays and was originally published by the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: Where is God in our pain?
    First person: Where is God in our pain?
    July 11, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts
    BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts
    July 10, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’
    Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’
    July 10, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: Where is God in our pain?

The recent flooding in Texas has left so many of us reeling. The loss of lives, especially the lives of children at Camp Mystic, is beyond comprehension.

BGCT churches unite to aid Kerr County flood relief efforts

Baptist General Convention of Texas churches in Kerrville, Texas, and surrounding areas are mobilizing their members to aid in relief efforts after the flooding of the Guadalupe River on July 4. 

Baylor rescinds grant for LGBTQIA+ study following ‘concern and confusion’

Baylor University has rescinded a $644,000 grant intended to study the “disenfranchisement” of LGBTQIA+ individuals and women in churches, following concern from the Baptist General

Critical aid helping Texans find ‘some sense of normalcy’ after flooding

While Baptist Disaster Relief teams are meeting immediate needs in central Texas, some clean-up efforts in areas like Kerrville may be on hold another two

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel