It was celebration day for members of the Prince of Peace Baptist Church. They are nearing completion of their new state of the art building in Strawberry Mansion, and it has been a remarkable journey.
Nearly three years ago, the original building, 4-story converted school was reduced to ruins in a 6-alarm fire.
The pastor and his congregants, many of them life-long members of Prince of Peace, vowed to rebuild and continue their vital work in the community.
They are putting the final touches on a $7 million building that will make it more of a community center.
The pastor of 20 years has led the way to the resurrection.
"It turns out that it looks really very nice," said Rev. Robert Shipman. "We are mindful, however, that it is just a building, and that the building is not a church."
"Everybody is so overjoyed. You can't imagine the feeling of knowing what happened, and just to see how God is among us and obviously in this neighborhood. He wants us to do a work here, and we're ready," said lifelong member Sheila Toro.
From a beautiful, intimate new sanctuary to an enormous dining hall, classrooms for Christian education, and even its own printing shop, Prince of Peace is a masterpiece and a testament to what faith can do.
"To be able to tear it down, and from the ashes, building it back up, is awesome. That just shows how God can work," Mark Gray said.
"It's a church in the sense that who's present within it, but the church has to do with a church does as the people of God, as the body of Christ is to provide the Gospel and also services that are related to the love of God," Rev. Shipman explained.
The grand opening Sunday service will be in mid-May as the pride and satisfaction from the rebirth of this pillar of the community grows by the hour.
