The Villas Wesleyan Church is undergoing repairs a year after a fire destroyed part of the building.
“You can see those beams—they were sawing them off to collapse the roof and remove the debris,” Pastor Brian Cooper said. “They're essentially starting from the top down. Anything made of wood in here will be gone.”
Demolition crews have begun stripping the building down to its concrete and foundation—the first step in breathing new life into the Villas Wesleyan Church in Fort Myers.
A year ago, a fire caused by an electrical issue devastated the church.
“The previous pastor was in the building at the time, so we had a great response from the nearby fire department,” Cooper said.
The damage forced Cooper to close the main church doors and temporarily hold services in the gym.
“I think one of the challenges of going through something so devastating is that it can be disheartening, but I've been really impressed by how the church has rallied around this,” he said.
Cooper describes the fire as a blessing in disguise.
“This is a great opportunity for us to rebrand,” he said. “We're going to have a nice logo on the front, right across from the school. We want to figure out ways to bless the families and the school.”
Now, they have the chance to create a better space for the community.
“God uses all things for His good,” he said. “It's been a great reminder that the church is more than just a building.”
He added that God brings beauty from ashes, preparing the church for new life to rise.
They anticipate completing all renovations within a year.