Dozens of worshippers gathered outside their burned-out church building Sunday, promising to move forward.

The Beraca First Haitian Baptist Church caught fire Tuesday evening. State Fire Marshalls say the fire started in the attic and quickly spread. No one was hurt. The building is a total loss and even too dangerous to enter.

Congregants brought their own chairs to worship Sunday. Patio chairs, folding chairs and even dining chairs formed a semi-circle around the church leaders, as they used the hood of a car as a table for their Bibles.

“We can’t leave here without a show of pride for the Haitian community that we love them, God loves them and we continue to survive,” said Pastor Fritz Paul.

Seven-year-old Ishmael Benoit played drums in the church band. He said it was a dream come true to worship through song and music.

“I felt happy and surprised,” he said. “I was surprised I was playing the drums.”

But now his drum kit is among the charred remains.

The church has a temporary home at the Northridge Church in Haines City, but the parishioners wanted to have one more service at their original location. They’re promising to be back soon.

“We cannot leave this place because this is a monument for the Haitian community here,” Pastor Paul said. Many people who move to Haines City from Haiti find direction and solace in the church, the pastor said.

“I help them (learn to) survive in America,” he said.

The church will rebuild, he said, to stay an epicenter for the Haines City Haitian community.

While searching through what’s left, an adult found Ishmael’s old cymbal.  It’s a start, and he’s looking forward to rebuilding his kit while the church rebuilds its home.

“One thousand percent,” he said.

The church started a GoFundMe (https://www.gofundme.com/fppa5g9c) page to raise money. For more information, contact Pastor Paul Fritz at fpaul@liberty.edu.

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