Lifepointe Baptist Church on Wises Rd, Buderim damaged by massive fire

A Sunshine Coast church famous with thousands of families for its annual Christmas display has vowed to rebuild from the ashes after a devastating fire. The pastor has told of his disbelief when a neighbour called. NEW VIDEOS, PICS

A Sunshine Coast church famous with thousands of families for its annual Christmas display has vowed to rebuild from the ashes after a devastating fire which gutted its main auditorium.

Lifepointe Baptist Church on Wises Rd, Buderim, was engulfed in flames late Friday night with fire investigators and police now probing the cause of the devastating blaze.

Lifepointe Baptist Church senior pastor Phil Greenbury said the fire has created “millions and millions” of dollars worth of damage, with 75 to 80 per cent of the $15m building now “destroyed”.

Mr Greenbury, who has been pastoring the church for 23 years, said a small section with a hall and meeting rooms was potentially unscathed, but will need to assess it for any fire or water damage.

Lifepointe Baptist Church senior pastor Phil Greenbury. Photo: Asa Andersen.

The pastor said he didn’t know how the fire started, but said the blaze destroyed his auditorium at the back of the church before tearing through the foyer and other halls.

Mr Greenbury said he learned about the fire at 11pm on Friday when his neighbour called him about it.

He said he “couldn’t believe it” and drove to his church only to find police, ambulance, and 11 fire engines fighting a “massive blaze above the building”.

Mr Greenbury said the tragedy not only impacted his church, but wider community, saying hundreds of people and groups used the building built in 2001, such as counsellors, craft groups, and children event co-ordinators.

“That saddens us because we really want to give our community hope in times like this,” he said.

The massive fire which engulfed Lifepointe Baptist Church near Maroochydore.

Looking ahead, Mr Greenbury said he didn’t know when the building would be reusable, but said his church services “wouldn’t stop” and was looking for places to host ministries, and his congregation from next week.

Lifepointe Baptist Church long-serving member Desma Johnson said the fire was “very devastating” as it has been her church – known as “home” – for the past 26 years, and used for many others seven days a week.

“I’m just so sad that this has happened,” she said.

“It’s going to affect a lot of people.”

In a message on its Facebook page, the church said: “Although we mourn the loss of our building, we know all hope is not lost. Because we are more than a building – our people are the church!

Lifepointe Baptist Church's leadership team gathered after the fire and have vowed to rebuild from the ashes.

“While we are heartbroken, we stand together today in the power of God and prayer to rebuild from the ashes to continue to impact our community with the love of Jesus.

“ Tomorrow's services are cancelled but we are organising a new place to meet for next week and a place for our ministries.

“Please hold us in your prayers and stand with us as we work through this season.

“ We will keep you updated as more information comes to light. We are not defeated! As we know God is with us and goes before us. We love you church family!”

Desma Johnson outside Lifepointe Baptist Church on Saturday.

Fire investigator Ash Dickson said crews arrived on the scene of the blaze very quickly from the nearby Maroochydore station but the church was fully engulfed by fire.

“The building is extensively damaged all the way through,” Mr Dickson said on Saturday morning.

“We are working with Queensland Police at this stage to determine where the fire started.’’

Specialist police scientific crews from the Gold Coast and Brisbane were expected to arrive about 11am and would be joined by local fire investigators to examine the scene.

“There will be an extensive investigation throughout the building, starting with the area of least damage, working to the area of most damage,” Mr Dickson said.

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“There’s a full structural collapse of the rear of the building extending to the middle.

“Certain parts of the building will need to be demolished at some stage.’’

Buderim resident Rikki-Lee Cochrane captured images of the massive church blaze on Friday night.

As well as the church, the building is home to Youth With a Mission (YWAM) which has trained hundreds of young people to travel the world in aid and outreach programs as missionaries.

Other churches from across the Coast are already reaching out to the devastated pastoral team offering any support they can give.

Eleven firefighting crews and senior officers were on-scene late Friday night, having first received calls about 11.15pm.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said early Saturday morning about 60 per cent of the building had been involved in the blaze but it was understood the damage may be more significant than that.

Investigators taking photos outside Lifepointe Baptist Church in Buderim on Saturday morning. Picture: Mark Furler

Firefighters had remained on scene early Saturday morning monitoring the blaze.

Lifepointe Baptist Church youth leader Tom Paroz said the blaze was a “massive shock” and disappointing given he had been leading youth at the church for the past six years.

“It was a home to a lot of us,” he said.

Andrea Roberts, who has been attending the church for the past decade, said it was a “major loss” not only for the church but the whole community, saying the building was used by many groups.

“There will be lots of people who won’t know what to do,” she said.

Ms Roberts said she was shocked and emotional when she learned about the fire early this morning, saying it was “so sad for everything”.

The damage inside the Lifepointe Baptist Church.

Ms Roberts said the church was well-known for featuring a major Christmas display every year, saying thousands of people would visit.

A Lifepointe Baptist Church churchgoer of six years said she was also shocked and in “disbelief” to see her 20-year-old church scorched.

“I think the church will bounce back,” she said.

The church went viral back in 2016 for its ‘You are loved’ campaign, with its roadside signs sparking curiosity across the Coast.

Maroochydore resident David Brzeski, who lives about 5km away from the church, said he woke up at 2.30am Saturday and could smell smoke, initially thinking it was a rubbish fire before discovering the truth.

“It wasn’t a very nice smell,” he said.

Nobody was inside the building at the time of the blaze.

Updates to come.

Originally published as Lifepointe Baptist Church on Wises Rd, Buderim damaged by massive fire