Members of Highland Park Missionary Baptist Church gathered for Sunday worship at a temporary location after a devastating fire destroyed their church building earlier in the week.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) — Just days after a three-alarm fire tore through Highland Park Missionary Baptist Church, its congregation came together in faith, holding worship services at a different location on Sunday.
The fire broke out late Thursday night, prompting an urgent response from firefighters. Church member Michael Canteen said he received a call around midnight alerting him that something was wrong.
“A brother called me and said an alarm was going off,” Canteen recalled. “I got out of bed and went to the church, and the fire was consuming the building. Firefighters were already on the scene.”
The church, which has served the community for 118 years and occupied its current building for more than three decades, suddenly found itself without a place to worship just days before Sunday service.
Community members quickly stepped in to help. Saint Paul Baptist Church in Shively opened its doors, allowing Highland Park’s congregation to gather and worship together.
“There was no question at all—we were going to continue,” said Pastor Byron Cox. “We’re thankful for the opportunity to be somewhere, not scattered, but coming together in the pain and continuing the progress.”
For members like Canteen, returning to worship brought a sense of renewal and hope.
“Joy—it’s joy,” he said. “Like they say, joy comes in the morning. Everyone in the congregation is happy. It’s just good to be back together in worship.”
Pastor Cox said the church is taking things one step at a time as leaders work to secure a long-term location. Despite the loss of the building, he emphasized that the heart of the church remains strong.
“As wonderful as the building was,” Cox said, “what a church really means is the people—the hands, feet, and eyes of Christ—who keep the mission moving forward.”
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