Pasco County Church Needs Help Rebuilding After Arson

They’re asking the community to chip in.

A church community in Odessa is trying to rebuild after finding itself the target of arsonists. 

The building, which was used as an educational center, was recently set on fire.

Now, members of the Mt. Pleasant AME Church is searching for answers while trying to recoup their losses.

“Had the fire department not gotten here as quickly as they did, the fire would have gone into the trees,” Rev. James Mitchell said.

Mitchell says that would have had potentially devastating consequences.

“Can you imagine what would have happened had the fire captured those trees and hopscotched from tree to tree?” he said. “This building, our main edifice – it would have been gone.”

The two other buildings were built in the early 1900s and once served as a school for the black community during segregation. 

“That’s a lot of history that would have been lost in this particular fire. So we’re grateful to God that we were spared,” he said. 

Now, as they work to rebuild, they’re choosing to look on the bright side: 

“The building we lost, but our spirit is good. We’re strong. We’re growing.” 

The church has set up a GoFundMe to help them rebuild.

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