Norwich church and Christian charity hit by fire
 By Keith Morris
A Norwich city centre fire has hit both the Salvation Army and Norwich Youth for Christ offices on St Giles Street, but will not affect their ongoing work.
The fire, which was spotted by a cleaner at the Salvation Army Citadel at around 7am this morning, broke out in the Fairfields Solicitors office, which in on the floor between the Salvation Army on the ground floor and NYFC on the top floor.
St Giles St was closed to traffic and six firemen in breathing apparatus entered the building and then used ventilation equipment to clear rooms of smoke.
NYFC office manager, Fliss Jones, said: “The solicitors office was completely gutted and you could see through the floorboards to the Salvation Army office below it. We have had the insurance company in and they say we may not be able to use the office for three months and there might be a lot of smoke damage to our office equipment, carpets, computers and literature. Everything is covered in soot.”
NYFC director, Mark Tuma, said: “It could be three months of being elsewhere while structural work is done and because of the smoke hazard but I was amazed it did not spread and take more of the building.
“We are very thankful that, with the fire directly below us, our office was not totally devastated. God had been very gracious to us and we would ask people to pray for the solicitors and the Salvation Army.
“We are holding our annual thanksgiving service tomorrow night at St Luke’s and we will be giving thanks to God for protecting us and enabling us to continue our work with young people.”
Nine staff are based in the building and they have been offered a home for two weeks by Norwich Central Baptist Church, but may be looking for something after that.
Salvation Army secretary, Alison Gibson, said: “One of our offices is quite badly damaged and we had to close the day centre and St Catherine’s Coffee Lounge today. People will be working over the weekend to make sure that they can reopen on Monday. The main hall is not damaged and this will not affect our ongoing work or our weekend services.”
To contact the Salvation Army, ring 01603 620747.
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| | | Dave (Guest) | 14/11/2008 18:12 | Ah! Norwich YFC, my most favorite Norwich YFC around. So, anyone gonna call them to see if they need any help?
Ok, maybe not call them, after all, no one would like our dearest Fliss to get soot on her face as she answers the phone...HOLD ON, I HAVE AN IDEA! *DING*
office@norwichyfc.co.uk
Yes, this motley crew youth workers cannot be stopped by a little fire, they can *STILL* check their emails. So go on Body of Christ, live up to your name.
"Norwich YFC, they're so on fire for Jesus, their office decided to get in on the act!"
| | | | chris cleary, YFC Trustee (Guest) | 14/11/2008 18:32 | I agree with David, what a strange logic Diana has.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mark, Fliss and the team. Keep the faith!
God has never failed Norwich YFC over the years, and we believe he will not fail them now!
I would encourage Christians everywhere to pray for the YFC Team and thank God for their dedication, commitment and love for doing Jesus work ion our city.
| | | | Uncle Cameron (Guest) | 14/11/2008 23:36 | Just to let you know that Christians in Wales are lifting you up in prayer.
NYFC and Salvation Army do a great job reaching those in need. Our thoughts are with my nephew Andrew Jones and Fliss his wife, their friends, colleagues and supporters . And by the way, there is only one type of Christian - those who do the will of Christ, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. Faith, Hope and Love and the greatest of these...
| | | | Lynda (Guest) | 15/11/2008 14:22 | My sympathies go to all affected by the fire. I go to St Thomas' Church whose Hall was gutted out by an arson attack last year. It has been a real nuisance for the organisations who normally meet there - we have had to meet in various other places which has practical problems.
Fortunately, after a delay caused by deciding to wait for funding to have the Hall rebuilt with the improvements we had already started to fundraise for, the builders have now started work and the Hall will be ready in early Summer next year.
I wish the Solicitors, Salvation Army and NYFC all the best in having their premises speedily put to right when they will be working normally in their own premises again.
By the way, did Jarrolds have a fire? I remember Garlands being burnt down in 1970.
| | | | (Guest) | 17/11/2008 14:26 | Oh! if we all spent this much time & energy in 'the cause' like NYFC & Salvation Army do! i wonder what would happen???
| | | | xxx (Guest) | 17/11/2008 19:13 | Dear Guest. Well I think there would be a whole lot of Martha's and not enough Marys. Please don't misunderstand me.
After the Lord made Man he Commanded that he rest with him then work. The first mention of anything in the Bible sets forth the principle of that thing which is then developed throughout the Bible until it is developed fully. The principle of rest before work is ordained by the Lord, and that principle will be fully realised when God and man have mutual rest. We should learn from him a while. The human way is to first work for God and then rest.
Maybe if we rest and listen a while, what to do, when and where to do it would become apparant. We should be carefull not to be presumptious of the Lord.
Check with your own experience, after you received the Lord Jesus did not an instant sense of the need to serve him rise up within you? Did you not want to work as if through your gratitude and activity you could somehow repay the debt he paid. Bothers and sisters Yes serve him we must but if he is not in it or if it does not originate in him then it is a vain work.
That is why the social work of the church flourishes but at the expense of the proper building up of the church.
However so you don't misunderstand me I am not saying that NYFC or the S.A fall into that category, but if the church functioned properly there would be no need for any para "church" organisations as the body of Christ would meet all spiritual needs and spontaneously the social needs would be organically taken care of because the Lord would be with us in his Kingdom. May your Kingdom Come Lord Jesus, Amen.
| | | | xxx (Guest) | 18/11/2008 07:55 | Even prayer that is not originated by the Lord is vain.
| | | | xxx (Guest) | 18/11/2008 10:00 | Well imitator. Please forgive me I know how I come across.
I believe in prayer and that the believers should pray. I also believe that the saints who are initiating this are sincere and devout, yet experience by now should have taught us that an over emphasis on any one part of the christian life does not bare remaining fruit. Real prayer is The Lord on earth in us praying through us to the lord on the throne in heaven. He is the initiator, He is the working, He is the speaker he is the power, He is the hearer, He is the amen. We are the vessels the co-operators those that need to be the people of prayer
Yet Where is the fellowship of the apostles teaching? do you know what that is? where is the breaking of bread? do you know what that really means? Where is the testimony of the one body of Christ? can you see that vision hiding behind the walls of denominational preference? Where is the vision of how to practise the oneness,? Where is the example of the so called leaders of all the various factions of genuine Spirit born blood washed believers in this city repenting for the divisions and damage they have caused because of pride and ambition and their lack of knowledge of the word of God.
Vision? hmm you believe it to be so, yet to me this does not seem to be an organic move of the body of Christ.
What come together echo the Lords prayer that we would be one and go back to "our" "church".
Revival is coming no doubt about that, we are in the last days no doubt about that, the Lord will gain His body and His Bride no doubt about that, but through genuine prayer.
The 24/7 prayer centre,( a place,) lets see how long it will last or what it becomes.
Rather the genuine prayers at all times in Spirit that will stand for all eternity, that move heaven, bind up our enemy, loose those that are bound, defeat Satan and all his schemes, brings in the kingdom and ends this age. Amen.
Ephesians 1:18
I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints
Ephesians 6:18
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
Acts 2:42
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Luke 18
1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they (A)ought to pray and not to (B)lose heart,
| | | | Guest (Guest) | 18/11/2008 10:31 | Let us please not lose sight of what this article is about. It is about NYFC, the solicitors and Salvation Army having a fire and your thoughts, prayers and support will be much appreciated by all of those involved.
Praise God that noone was hurt.
Let's rise up together and lift all of these organisations in prayer.
This is not an opportunity to have a go at someone that does something a different way.
God is doing amazing work through NYFC and the Salvation Army and will continue to use them mightily.
| | | | Paul (Guest) | 24/11/2008 11:15 | AMEN!
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