DALLAS — A North Texas minister is holding onto his faith as he works to rebuild his home that was a complete loss in the July 25 Balch Springs grass fire.
“It’s all gone. It’s destroyed, totally,” Rev. Fred Jackson said, as he observed the remains of his home the first week of August.
The home was one of 26 affected by the grass fire. The Balch Springs fire marshal says a lawn mower that was cutting grass on a large private property right beside Jackson’s neighborhood caused the fire.
“When you’re watching your livelihood go up the way this did, it’s a hard, empty feeling,” Jackson said.
Thankfully, for Jackson and his wife, Glenda, neither were home that Monday afternoon, when homes started catching on fire.
Even during one of the toughest weeks of his life, Jackson was up for Sunday morning church. Jackson is an associate pastor at the Greater Golden Gate Missionary Baptist Church in Dallas. Along with the church praying for the Jacksons, the congregation has started a GoFundMe. So far, they’ve raised nearly $3,000.
“Greater Golden Gate has shown me we are family,” Jackson said.
The Jacksons, who have been married for 22 years, say their insurance should cover the entire house. Jackson says, even during this dark time, he’s putting his faith in God.
“This is material. He is eternal. So, if He’s commissioned me to go forward, I’m going to go forward,” Jackson said.
After jumping from hotel to hotel, Jackson says his insurance has found them a temporary home to stay in. Jackson says he’s fully believing and trusting that he’ll be able to call his property his home again a year from now.
“This is something that He’ll take care of. I don’t have to worry about it,” Jackson said.