HOTR Abuja Church fire: Pastor Adefarasin speaks out...

The Senior Pastor of the House on the Rock Church, Paul Adefarasin, has spoken for the first time, after the fire outbreak in the Abuja branch of the church.
The fire incident occurred at about 2 pm on Sunday, June 25, 2017, at the facilities used as a branch of the Church in Abuja.

Pastor Adefarasin in a series of tweets thanked God that there were no casualties and that the incident occurred in the afternoon after all those attending the mid-year Thanksgiving Service had departed the premises.
Read his tweets after the jump...

A fire incident occurred at about 2 pm on Sunday 25, June 2017 at the facilities used by the Abuja daughter church of the House On The Rock.

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

Thankfully, this occurred in the afternoon after all those attending the mid-year Thanksgiving Service had departed the premises.

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

We remain profusely grateful to the Sovereign and Almighty God that there were no human fatalities or casualties.

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

 

While some parts of the complex were damaged by the fire, the swift co-ordinated response by many including the following -

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

We commend the professionalism of all the first responders and thank them for the invaluable service they rendered.

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

We are now working with the relevant authorities & consultants to ensure the structural integrity of the affected building

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

We enjoin all our members, friends and guests to remain calm as we solicit your continued prayers in this season.

— Paul Adefarasin (@pauladefarasin) June 26, 2017

Back Story:

Property worth millions of naira was reportedly destroyed by fire on Sunday at the House on the Rock church on James Wolfesen Drive, Airport Road, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The fire, which engulfed the church premises, located behind the Nigerian Basketball Federation Stadium, could be observed from the neighbouring Garki, Jabi and Gwarinpa areas, which are at least 10 kilometres away.
A witness and church member said the fire started from the plant beside the church, adding that had the firefighters arrived on time, the fire would not have escalated.
He noted that the church buildings had just been renovated and recently inaugurated.