For those who came to worship in Jerusalem, even the walls were special. The temple building was beloved. What made the place special was the presence of God, and yet the city walls and temple courts were much to be desired. It would be wonderful to be like the birds that nested there, always at home in that place, the psalmist reflected in Psalm 84.

God is present through His Spirit in all believers without needing a temple building, but we still consider precious the place where we regularly gather to worship, fellowship, and serve with God’s people, especially when we’ve made the pilgrimage to one church building for decades.

The Selma Reformed Presbyterian Church building was made of bricks and wood, but those bricks and wood meant something. For the people who worshiped the Lord together there, served the needy, taught children and new believers, responded to the gospel, and shone a witness to their community from that place, the building was precious.

Over its long history, the congregation, with the building as ground zero, quietly did what few groups have done to practically demonstrate “there is neither slave nor free,…for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” They didn’t call attention to themselves; they did the difficult work of serving, building, and reconciling. Because of them there was a school and libraries, a hospital, a YMCA. They demonstrated Christ’s kingship by participating in government and working with city officials, even when prejudice abounded.

That building stood as testament to centuries of a witness for Christ. Now most of the building is gone.

Removing the debris created by the tornado on Jan. 12 meant completely removing everything above the basement. Even a part of the ground level, which was the fellowship hall, had to be demolished. Almost everything that church members remember about the inside of the building is gone. Only two pews could be saved, due to the tornado damage followed by days of rain. The manse still stands next door, missing much of the roof.

Completing the debris-removal stage takes the congregation one step closer to something constructive. While we in the broader denomination cannot replace the historic walls, we can once again come alongside these saints and support them by all means possible in the new chapter of their legacy.