Firefighters from several departments worked for hours to beat the blaze — as the flames swallowed the structure and smoke billowed high into the air. Fire officials said the structure sustained heavy damage. But when it was over and firefighters were combing through the rubble, they uncovered church possessions that had survived: Bibles. Farrington said the sacred texts had been scattered throughout the sanctuary, most in seat-back pockets for parishioners and one that was kept on the pulpit for him.<doc-sep>Bibles miraculously survive a church fire. (Photo: Facebook/Coal City Fire Department) Churchgoers in West Virginia are counting their blessings after a massive fire struck their local parish, but left the Bibles and crosses unscathed. The Coal City Fire Department responded to a call from the Freedom Ministries Church in Grandview, West Virginia, early Sunday morning, where they found the church’s structure engulfed in flames, to the point where firefighters feared for their lives. “Picture this, a building so hot that at one point in time, firefighters had to back out,” a post on the department’s Facebook page reads, explaining that there seemed to be little hope for the church. However, the department said that none of its firefighters were injured in putting out the blaze. Even more surprising, each of the Bibles and crosses inside of the church was virtually untouched by the fire. People flooded the department’s post with comments sharing similar anecdotes, including multiple firefighters who have yet to come across a Bible that’s been harmed in the most tragic of fires. “Out of every structure fire I have responded to in the past 20 years, not one bible has burned,” one person wrote. “It just goes to show that God’s word is more powerful than the devil’s fire and fury no matter how hot it gets.” “I was a responding vol. firefighter on 9/11 to Flight 93 in Shanksville, Somerset County. We were walking in the woods yelling for survivors, and looking for the wreckage, when we got on scene. We found wallets and papers, blowing in the wind, that were charred and burnt. Unreadable. We did however, find a Bible. Untouched. Completely readable,” wrote another. “I don’t talk much about responding that day, but felt compelled to share my story too. I have PTSD from that call. But you’re right. God is with us on those bad calls, those bad days. You just have to look up.” The Freedom Ministries Church didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, it informed parishioners of the fire through Facebook and asked that people still come to the church to pray on Sunday evening, while the fire department asked for prayers as well. Story continues “Though odds were against us, God was not,” the fire department’s post reads. “Prayers for the pastor and the congregation today.” Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: • ‘Heaven has strict immigration laws, hell has open borders’: Community riled up by church marquee message • Christian woman awarded $21.5 million after lawsuit claims she was fired for skipping Sunday shifts to go to church • Community protests anti-LGBTQ church sign that reads ‘Bruce Jenner is still a man’ Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.<doc-sep>When the Freedom Ministries Church went up in flames in Grandview, West Virginia, on Sunday, firefighters expected it to be a total loss. So imagine their surprise when they found the church's buildings untouched by the blaze, its crosses unharmed. "Picture this, a building so hot that at one point in time, firefighters had to back out," the Coal City Fire Department posted on Facebook. "In your mind, everything should be burned, ashes." And yet, the post noted, "Not a single bible was burned and not a single cross was harmed!" The church also posted a photo of the fire on its on Facebook page, writing that Jesus can be seen in the midst of the smoke. "We will have to rebuild but we will be OK," Freedom Ministries Church wrote. RELATED STORIES<doc-sep>
A church fire in West Virginia left firefighters stunned when they found Bibles untouched by the flames. Early Sunday morning, the Coal City Fire Department responded to a fire at the Freedom Ministries Church in Grandview, a town in the mountains of West Virginia. ALABAMA MAN'S BIBLE SURVIVES DEVASTATING HOME FIRE, BRINGING FIREFIGHTERS TO TEARS: 'IT WAS A MIRACLE' "Picture this, a building so hot that at one point in time, firefighters had to back out," the fire department wrote on Facebook. "In your mind, everything should be burned, ashes." But the firefighters said not a single Bible was burned. Not a single cross was harmed. Not a single firefighter was hurt. MISSOURI BOY CREDITS 'BLACK PANTHER' AND JESUS FOR SAVING HIS LIFE AFTER HE WAS IMPALED BY MEAT SKEWER "Though odds were against us, God was not," the firefighters said, offering prayers for the pastor and congregation. And in a Facebook post, Freedom Ministries wrote that "in the midst of the smoke you can see Jesus. He was there with us!" The congregation views it as a time to rally together and give back. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "We will fight the enemy and not let him hold us down," they wrote. The church is asking for prayer for Pastor Phil and Candice Farrington, whom they say have always given them love and support. 'THANK YOU, JESUS': MAN'S TRUCK GOES UP IN FLAMES BUT BIBLE LEFT INSIDE WAS UNSCATHED "Now it's our turn to return it back to them!"