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All around us, Church buildings are empty and forgotten. While some have moved on or created new spaces, many are left in the ruins of destruction, financial failure, or conflict. For a 173-year-old church in Brooklyn, NY, however, fire was the culprit.
James E. Steward II, pastor of South Bushwick Reformed Church in Brooklyn, New York, witnessed the church’s demolition and vowed to help rebuild it. When the church went up in flames this past Friday, Steward took it upon himself to seek public help and restoration through a $2 million GoFundMe appeal. Currently, the fundraiser has raised 1% of his target, and proceeds will go towards restoring the property as well as providing a temporary place of worship.
When asked why restoring this specific church was so important to him, Steward noted that, “For generations, South Bushwick Church has been a place of faith, hope, healing, and community in Brooklyn.” Thankfully, while no lives were lost, a place of great worship, ministry, and connection was.