The following poem written by Jenny Cote – Daughter of Dr. Paul Mims, was read at the first worship service following the fire that burned Cornerstone Baptist Church building down last Wednesday. The fire was started by ligtning that occurred during a powerful thunderstorm. While the Church body was shocked by the devastation caused by the fire they were able to meet for worship in the social Hall at the Cherry Log Christian Church. FYN hopes you enjoy this poem as much as we did when Dr. Mims shared it with the congregation last Sunday.

How the Storm Stole Church
(based on Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas)
By Casey and Jenny Cote
6.19.11

Every one down in Cornerstone liked their church a lot.
But the Storm from the north, it just seemed to not.

The folks had just left from a great Wednesday night,
when the Storm threw down a bolt with all of its might.

The fire, it did rage, all through the night,
devouring the church—it was a horrible sight.

The Storm looked down from its perch way up high.
“There’ll be no more church! The people will cry!”

The man asked the preacher the very next day,
“What will you do with your church burned away?”

“The Church hasn’t burned, just the building, I say.
Just wait ‘til you see us praise God on Sun-day.”

As Sunday arrived on that Father’s Day morn,
the Storm laughed with glee at the church, so forlorn.
“They’re just waking up, I know just what they’ll do.
Their mouths will hang open a moment or two,
Then the folks down in Cornerstone will all cry, ‘BOO-HOO!’”

“THAT’s a noise,” grinned the Storm, “that I simply MUST hear.”
So it paused, and the Storm put a hand to its ear.
And it did hear a sound rising over the hill.

It started in low, and then started to grow.
But the sound wasn’t sad.
Why, this sound was glad!

Then the Storm shook, what it saw was a shocking surprise.
All the folks down in Cornerstone, the tall and the small
Were singing and praising, above it all.

It hadn’t stopped Church from coming.
It came! Somehow or other, it came just the same.
It came without hymnals and Bibles and books.
It came without coffee, communion and cups.

Then the Storm thought of something it hadn’t before.
“Maybe Church doesn’t come from bricks and mortar.
Maybe, just maybe, Church means a little bit more.”

Then the SON shone bright, sending the Storm far away.
“They’ll be nothing but praise on this glorious day!
The Church is still strong, it will stay and move on,
For it lives not in buildings, but within every one.

The Church is a Family, with a Father on high,
Who knows all that happens, though they may ask “Why?”

“My ways are not your ways, just listen to Me.
When you pass through the storm, new miracles you’ll see.
Like a phoenix that rises from the ashes of fire,
So, too, will the people of Cornerstone aspire.”

The Father is Master of all storms that blow through.
And smiles at the people of Cornerstone, who,
Despite no building, sing out their praise true.

He will never leave them, nor forsake them,
But holds them tight with His love,
He’ll watch them rebuild
As He smiles bright from above.

We want to express our gratitude to Jenny Cote for sharing this beautiful poem.