Open House for CupiTSigns and Computer Works

Greater Antioch Baptist Tears Down Burned Edifice

PASCAGOULA -- Twenty-six years to the day after members of Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church marched into a new sanctuary, they are tearing it down to replace the edifice that was a total loss to fire in August last year.

"We are excited," said Myrtis Pittman. "We just wanted to see her down. We know if she's down, something else is coming up."

Pittman, administrative secretary, and other church members sat through a sunny but windy afternoon after workers with Stan's Dozer Service began pulling down the walls of the building on U.S. 90. Pastor John W. Davis Sr. left later in the afternoon to attend to other church business, she said.

"They are meeting with the architects," she said. "We are getting ready as soon as that's over with."

Pittman has been updating the church's website with history and current events since the summer fire devastated the membership of about 800. She said today's demolition is significant.

"Jan. 6, 1985, we marched from Pascagoula High School to this building for our first service," said Pittman. "And on Jan. 6, 20 year later, we are tearing it down."

She said the Pascagoula police accompanied the church members to the then-new sanctuary, a building that had replaced the former church, which was later torn down.

Church secretary Claudia Hamilton photographed the demolition. "In three days it's supposed to be all be cleared off. Nothing left."

Pittman said the demolition company expected to have the entire building torn down by nightfall. Work had expected to begin Tuesday but was delayed by rain. She was happy about the delay, saying she'd wanted work to begin Jan. 6.

"Everything Jesus did was always in numbers," she said. "Jesus had 12 apostles. There are seven days of the week. The Holy Trinity has three. ... Six is going to be very significant for us."

Pittman, Hamilton and Edwin Quave, chairman of the deacon ministry, are not exactly sure when a new sanctuary will be finished. Removing the burned building is the first step toward constructing a new church for the congregation.

He estimates construction would be complete by the end of this year; Pittman is hoping for Jan. 6, 2012.

For the past four months, Antioch members conducted services in the ballroom of the Grand Magnolia Bed and Breakfast on Magnolia Street. Ken and Debbie Steiner offered the building immediately after the fire, which blocked traffic for hours on U.S. 90 as firefighters battled the afternoon blaze.

Pittman said some parts of the building -- temple, cross, corner stone, Davis' name plate, even a computer program file of his 50th anniversary in the ministry -- have been saved from the bulldozers. "We saved the important things," she said.

Though displaced, the congregation got through Thanksgiving and Christmas pretty well, Pittman said. All regular services and church activities have continued as usual.

"We are used to where we are because the Steiners have made it just like home for us," said Pittman. "It doesn't seem like we are that distracted. You have somewhere to go. It was different because we are so used to decorating (during the holidays)."

The church will conduct its annual banquet at 6 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Grand Magnolia Ballroom.