LEHIGH ACRES — A devastating fire broke out Sunday night, completely destroying the choir room and a chapel at Christ at the Crossroads church in Lehigh Acres.
Neighbors and the church’s senior pastor, Zulma Soba, watched in disbelief as flames engulfed the building.
Watch Fort Myers Community Correspondent Miyoshi Price's report:
"The building was on fire, but not the church," said Pastor Soba. "Our spirit is still high. We gonna rise, and we're gonna shine more than ever." While the main sanctuary remained untouched, the roof suffered significant damage, and the atmosphere was filled with heartbreak as the community faced the loss.
"The big damage is in the back," Soba explained. "The choir room and the chapel are completely destroyed." She recounted how a neighbor alerted her to the fire, saying he saw smoke coming from the church. “We ran outside, my husband and I, and we were in disbelief," she shared. "We were heartbroken."
As the fire raged, the impact of the church’s long-standing presence in the community since the 1960s became evident. "We saw that, you know, the flame and the smoke, and we were like, you know, it is a real situation," Soba commented.
Katie Heck, spokesperson for the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, provided insight into the firefighting efforts. "We were able to put it out in about an hour and a half of active firefighting. That was with all of our apparatus from our stations, and assistance the City of Fort Myers and South Trail," Heck stated. "Several fire districts assisted, which can be helping to cover calls in the area while our units were here. We did have our two aerials up, so it was nice. We actually just put one of our new aerials in service a few months ago."
The quick calling from community members played a crucial role in the early response. “That really led to the ability to save the building," she noted.
Currently, the church staff is collaborating with safety officials due to the fire and water damage, which has left ash and soot that could be toxic. "Because of synthetic things that burn, it's not something that's good to inhale," warned Heck.
Classes associated with the church have been postponed, with students not expected to return until next week, pending safety evaluations of the property.
When asked about the church’s next steps, Pastor Soba emphasized the need for patience and support. "The only thing is, be patient with us," she said. "Pray for us. Keep sending us your love and support, and as soon as we start, you know, we have the green light to start working, we will let you know."
As the community rallies around Christ at the Crossroads, the resilience of its pastor and the church’s congregation shines through even the darkest of times.
