A church in Moncton, New Brunswick is sharing its history with the goal of bringing a glimmer of hope to those struggling through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 1913, First Baptist Church in Moncton burned to the ground. Within two days the congregation agreed to rebuild, a project that would take two years to complete. 

Over those

two years, the church grew closer as they worked together for a common goal. 

Once the building was completed, the pastor of First Baptist Church at the time expressed the wish that now that they had a building, he hoped that that sense of unity, fellowship and closeness the congregation had gained, would not disappear but carry on. 

And the church did exactly that just a few years later in 1918 during the Spanish Flu pandemic.

The city hospital was overflowing, they had reached a point where they could not accept any more patients, they just had no more room.

That's when First Baptist Church decided to open up its doors. They quickly transformed three big rooms within their facility into a makeshift emergency hospital.

Dr. Hinson West, a doctor who was preparing to head to India as a medical missionary, volunteered to be the head doctor.  Another doctor who lived close to the church also reached out and volunteered his time.

An ad was put in the newspaper for nurses and nurses aides. In total, they managed to get 13 including a young lady who had absolutely no experience in health care but wanted to help out. 

In the end, the church managed to help 25 patients over the course of si

x weeks.

Reverend Richard Jackson is the current senior pastor at First Baptist Church. He says it's important to share this story not only with his congregation but with the world because it's a good reminder that we've been in this situation once before. 

"As hard as it is, we've been there before and we have not only survived, we've thrived. We've reached out and made a difference and we can do it again," he said.

Pastor Jackson says this experience, even after we move past this pandemic, is a good reminder for the church, that we do not have to be the centre of everything to have a powerful impact on culture.

"This was just a church that saw a need, reached out, saved lives and witnessed Christ without having to be the very centre of culture. I think that is an important lesson for churches in North America today," Jackson expressed.