By JESSA LEWIS
6 News Reporter
LAFOLLETTE (WATE) - The cause of the fire that destroyed a
LaFollette church has been ruled as arson, the Campbell County Sheriff's
Office said Thursday.
Fincastle Church of God, located off Old Middlesboro Highway in LaFollette, burned to the ground early Sunday morning.
Though the cause has been determined, officials have not yet released a motive or the names of any suspects in the case.
"I
met with the sheriff, and he gave us a report on what the fire marshals
had found. Arson was not one of them we wanted to hear, because it's
heartbreaking that someone would be that cruel, to set especially a
church on fire," said Rev. Mike Smith of the Fincastle Church of God.
Support from nearby churches has been overwhelming.
Rev.
Smith says he's gotten calls from as far as 50 miles away from churches
offering their space so the members of the Fincastle Church of God can
continue to have their services.
He says Thursday's news didn't break just his heart.
"It's
sad. It's very sad, because to know that someone has the means to do
that and all, everybody I've talked to is so, has been heartbroken
because of it," Smith added.
Now, he wants justice.
"Most
certainly I hope that they will be caught and I would like to say to
everyone, all the churches, all the believers out there to pray that
this can come to a head," Smith said.
Because the building
was destroyed, Fincastle Church of God will hold services on Sunday at
the Christian Academy of Campbell County at 4 p.m.
Fincastle Church of God, located off Old Middlesboro Highway in LaFollette, burned to the ground early Sunday morning.
