Fire destroys sanctuary of Living Word, Marana

On Sunday, October 27, Living Word Baptist Church in Marana met for worship in the church fellowship hall after a fire destroyed the sanctuary late Friday night.

About 20 miles outside of Tucson, the church has served the community since 1945, according to its website. Pastor Michael Scalmato said that before the fire, the building was a “time capsule” for that history.

But no more.

“The entire roof fell in; the windows are gone; it’s black everywhere,” Scalmato said, describing the damage. “It looks to be a total loss.”
Marana Police Department and Northwest Fire District responded to the blaze on Friday night.

“Police detectives as well as fire investigators responded to the scene,” wrote Sgt. Vincent Rizzi with Marana Police Department in a statement. “The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, being that it was suspicious in nature.”

The church is presently meeting in a separate building that houses the fellowship hall.

Members of the public who have any information related to the fire should contact Marana Police Department at 520-382-2000.

Since the fire, Living Word has received an outpouring of support — financial and otherwise — from the community, said Scalmato, who just became the church’s pastor at the beginning of October after filling the pulpit over the summer. The church averages about 45 to 50 in attendance.

“A lot of people stopped by while we were setting up for service (in the fellowship hall) to remind us of the history of the church,” he said. “And we invited them all back.”

On Sunday morning, about 45 people gathered in the fellowship hall — a separate building — to sing hymns, read Scripture and tend to church business. Scalmato said they reminded themselves that God has a plan.

“Sunday service was really good,” he said. “The acoustics are fantastic in there. … It’s going to work out for our good. We’re all in pretty good spirits, and we’re coming closer together.”

John Guillott, associational mission strategist for Catalina Baptist Association, stopped by the church on Saturday as church members prepared to hold Sunday service in spite of the fire.

“They need prayer for the next steps … to take,” Guillott said. “And prayer that the financial resources they will need to move forward will be provided and prayer for encouragement and strength during this next season of the life of the church.”

Johanna Willett, a freelance writer living in Tucson, is a member of Mountain View Baptist Church, Tucson.