BYRON, Ga. — One of the oldest church congregations in Byron is reeling after police say an arsonist intentionally set their church on fire Tuesday night.
The fire severely damaged the administration building of Byron United Methodist Church on West Heritage Street.
Byron United Methodist Church Pastor Josh Bizzell said though the office is destroyed, their community is not.
"We were just hugging each other and encouraging each other," Bizzell said. "This is a very encouraging church and a very loving congregation. So, we've already seen in the last 12 hours — just the church coming together."
Bizzell said after he and his wife found out around 1 a.m. Wednesday morning, they quickly headed to their church and caught the office in flames.
According to Byron Police Chief Wesley Cannon, one of his officers was on patrol Tuesday night when they smelled fire at around 11:45 p.m., which they eventually tracked down to the church.
While a fire was set in the sanctuary pulpit, it had burned itself out. But when the officer and Byron Fire arrived, Cannon says the office building was engulfed.
For pastor Bizzell, he says this isn't the first time the congregation's faith has been tested by fire; the church burned to the ground in the '60s.
"They rebuilt and kept going, and we're gonna rebuild and keep going," he said. "We feel like we've got a community behind us to help us do that."
Hundreds of people have taken to social media to share their support for Byron UMC church-goers. One Peach County firefight said on social media that he found a family-style bible enclosed in a curio cabinet and the bible was untouched.
For Bizzell, he says that story is a testament to the power of faith.
"It was untouched by the fire and so it's just neat to see a reminder that the things that we've built ourselves on as a church can't be destroyed by a fire," Bizzell said.
He says at the end of the day, the community wins.
"We don't know exactly where we're gonna worship yet, but either in the fellowship hall or find somewhere else," Bizzell said. "That's the cornerstone who we are as a community, as a worshiping community."
Now, the Byron Police Department is asking for the public's help. Byron Police ask anyone with information on the fire to call Macon Regional CrimeStoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.