CHAPEL FIRE SEEN AS NOT ARSON

The fire that burned down the Hobbs Chapel United Methodist Church Friday was not caused by arson, local investigators reportedly now believe.

After reviewing television news tape not available to the original investigator from the state fire marshal's office, investigators for the Cape County Sheriff's Department and the Cape Girardeau Fire Department want to discuss the fire with him again, according to the Rev. David Stewart, the church's pastor.

"They think it was not arson," Stewart said Tuesday night.

"They're not going to investigate for arson."

The Southeast Missourian was unable to confirm the report with investigators Tuesday night.

The 101-year-old church and attached two-story education center were destroyed by the fire, which East County Fire Chief Jim Hanks previously termed "of suspicious origin."

The church is located on Route 177 just north of the Cape Girardeau city limits.

The fire was reported about 9 a.m. Friday. East County volunteer firefighters arrived to find flames erupting from both buildings. Twenty-four firefighters worked to bring the blaze under control within an hour, but Hanks said, "...it was just too far gone when we got the call."

The education wing had been added onto the chapel 12 years ago.

The fire started on the northeast side of the building, Hanks said.

The building was insured, "but it won't come anywhere near building it back," Stewart said of the insurance money.

With 144 members, many of whom have children, the church has been needing to expand.

The congregation held services Sunday in the activity center across the lane from the church. Stewart, who became pastor of the church only last June, preached about three wise men who saw something everyone else missed.

"Essentially, we talked about this being an opportunity from God," he said.

Forty people from the congregation are praying for an hour each day to try to divine what God wants them to do with their church in the future.

"Maybe we're not to build back the building," he said. "Maybe there's something else we're to do."

Donations have started coming in, Stewart said. Someone left checks in the door of the activity center Sunday morning. Someone else has offered to provide fixtures for a new church.

"This is a very generous community," said Stewart.

Church members, meanwhile, are proceeding with plans to hold a big Christmas dinner Saturday in the church's activity center. The dinner will be held from 3:30-7 p.m.

"We're anticipating a big turnout," Stewart said, approximately double the usual number of 400.

"We'll cook more turkeys and offer crafts," he said.

Members of the church's youth group marched as planned in Cape Girardeau's Parade of Lights Sunday and were applauded up and down the route.

"Everybody pretty much did their grieving Friday watching (the church) burn," Stewart said.

The congregation met in the activity center that night. "From that point on the mood has pretty well been, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work," Stewart said.