Gatlinburg Church Members Are 'Smoky Mountain Tough' Despite Massive Wildfire

The deadly wildfire in the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area burned churches like Roaring Fork Baptist Church, but members there are standing strong in their faith.

The fire moved through the area early last week, destroying Roaring Fork's church buildings, The Tennessean reported. 

Church members survived; about a half dozen lost their homes, including Andy and Gina Clabo. The Clabos attended a service on Sunday in the church's temporary home.

"I knew I had to come here," Gina Clabo said. "Even though we have no home, we have each other. And everybody has been so supportive."

Despite the heartbreaking loss of the buildings, the congregation stood up and praised God Sunday morning.

"We're God's church. Fire couldn't take that away. Fire can't take our resolve away," Rev. Kim McCroskey said. "I'm weak in the knees and overwhelmed with grief about what's happened, but I'm also overwhelmed with joy about seeing all of you here today."

The church is now meeting at a Christian summer camp northeast of Gatlinburg until they build again. McCroskey believes construction will happen fast, and he hopes the church will move into their new building by the end of 2017.

For now, they'll gather at Camp Smoky. Members describe themselves as "smoky mountain tough," according to WATE.com.

"The church is the people," McCroskey said. "That was a meeting place. It was an old stately building that was beautiful and we're going to build one back more beautiful than it was, but the church is the people you saw today with their hands raised singing 'Amazing Grace.'"

On its website, the church said it has set up a building fund to offset the cost of rebuilding.

The massive wildfire in the Gatlinburg area burned nearly 18,000 acres, killed at least 14 people, and damaged or destroyed more than 1,600 homes and businesses, The Tennessean reports.