After fire, first service in church

Dobbins landmark known as the “pink church” is back, this time in a smaller form.

Following two years of construction of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in the foothill hamlet after a 2005 fire that destroyed the original building, the congregation has a new place to call home and a replica of the former well-known edifice.

“We want you all to feel welcome to our church and our services,” Pastor Albert Beierle told the congregation during the first official service Saturday. “We were all shocked (the day of the fire) and wondered what God had in mind for us.”

The cause of the fire was relegated as “unknown” by the fire authorities.

Although the high-vaulted ceilings and a bell tower housing an 1888 casted bell are all new to the Dobbins community, church officials wanted to be sure to keep some of the old, familiar aspects.

One of those familiar features was the pink color painted on the outside of the building.

“People in the area used it to give directions,” said Linda Pappas, head of the Building Committee. “They used to say. ‘Go to the pink church and turn left.’ So while we were building, a lot of people were curious what was happening to the pink church.”

Despite the 3,600-square-foot building now being painted white, Pappas said the church will probably always be known as the pink church. Consequently, a church member created a small-scale replica of the pink church to use as a prayer drop box.

“It was fun to build the model,” replica pink church creator Lynn Johnson said. “Now the community has a place to put their prayers.”

Johnson, a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for 21 years, remembered the day of the fire, but placed his faith in God that all would turn out well.

“What could we do,” he said. “We didn’t understand why it was happening. We rebuilt and started new. (The building) is a dream.”

A memorial service for Johnson’s wife of 60 years, Vivian, was held in the church in August as the very first ceremony in the new building. On Saturday, the congregation celebrated the grand opening.

Over the past two years, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church congregation used other community facilities, and the members got to know their neighbors.

“It was really nice,” Pappas said. “We were all friends and crossed denomination lines. We used space at the Assembly of God church, and the Catholic church donated money. It really shows that everyone is friends. We have a lot of wonderful neighbors.”

Some of those church members showed their support by participating in the services on the official opening day.

Shirley Crompton, a member of the Dobbins Christian Assembly, attended the grand opening services out of support.

“It’s a beautiful building,” the Dobbins resident said. “If only we could build on to our church. It really is beautiful.”

First Elder Jim Pappas said although the fire was devastating, the church is taking the opportunity to start fresh.

“It’s literally building from the ashes up,” he said.

Appeal-Democrat reporter Andrea Koskey can be reached at 749-4709 or at akoskey@appealdemocrat.com