Jamaica: Fire engulfs Central Power Point Church in Mandeville, Community vows to Rebuild

Jamaica: A massive fire on Thursday afternoon destroyed the Central Power Point Church of God along Winter Road in Mandeville, Manchester, sending members into shock and mourning over the loss of their spiritual sanctuary of more than 13 years.

The inferno gutted the church that had been a haven for the community for over 13 years. Leader of the church, Bishop Glenton Johnson, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, estimating the loss at around $10 million. The fire burnt all five sections of the church, removing all the years of devotion and service by the members.

“I know that it is a great loss of about $10 million and it was like about five different sections in the church. In this time and season, it is quite a lot that we have lost. It will impact our members, because of the effort and all their commitment being put into this building over the years,” Johnson told the media.

Despite the disappointment of the setback, Bishop Johnson remains resolute in faith and determination to rebuild. “We have been here over 13 years and things were running very well, but I realize that this is going to slow us down quite a bit, but it is our intention to rebuild. We are not going to allow this to stop us,” he said.

The rapid spread of the fire was cause for concern for neighboring businesses, such as Neil’s Auto. Proprietor Bunny Neil described the chaotic scene in the frantic moments after the fire were discovered.

“The church behind us caught fire close to 5 o’ clock. One of my workers rushed to me and said the church was on fire. I had to rush and move some vehicles that were close to the church,” he said.

Preliminary efforts to get in touch with the fire brigade were hit by telecommunication issues. Neil said, “I tried to call the fire brigade, but I got no answer then I called the police, who got in touch with the fire brigade.”

The sub-officer in charge of the Mandeville police station, Inspector Simon McCormack, quickly intervened to ensure the intervention of the fire department. The timely coordination between the police and fire brigade saved other surrounding properties from getting damaged.

As the Church of God Central Power Point community embarks on what may be a very long and arduous period of rebuilding, the effort and resilience of members stand as testimony to an undying faith and spirit.