Landmark, England Sustains Storm Damage
By Diane Spriggs, Editor Emeritus
The 46 people who gathered for regular 5:45 p.m. services at Landmark Baptist Church in England Sunday, June 25, had no idea how their lives and the life of their church would change just 25 minutes later. The church building includes a fellowship hall in the back and sanctuary in the front. At 6:10 p.m., a terrible storm with heavy rain, but no hail, came through with straight line winds that were clocked at 76 mph at an agricultural airport a few miles east of town. The parsonage sits directly behind the main church building, and although it wasn’t damaged and “not even a shingle” was lifted on the sanctuary, according to Pastor David Inzer, the fellowship hall was hit full force. A blessing was that only the auditorium is used on Sunday evenings, so the building was empty. Another blessing was that none of the vehicles nearby sustained any damage.
“It looks like the whole roof on the fellowship hall will have to be replaced, with extensive damage inside of the fellowship hall, kitchen, two restrooms and at least one classroom,” said Bro. Inzer. “We had planned to feed a church family Wednesday for a funeral, but we are looking at moving that. We use the fellowship hall every Wednesday night for our children’s program and VBS is scheduled in three weeks. At this point, we’re not sure what we will do about those things.”
When asked about the area surrounding the church, Bro. Inzer said there was “some other damage, but it could have been so much worse.”
He said the church is insured and should be covered, less the deductible. When asked if they needed help with cleanup, he said, “We are waiting on our insurance company (as of Monday morning) to tell us our next move, so no help is needed with clean up just yet.
“As pastor of a great church, I’m so grateful that we’re not dealing with someone killed or injured,” Bro. Inzer, who is also a member of the Baptist Trumpet’s Publication Committee, continued. “Everything that was damaged can be replaced. We praise our Lord for His protection and goodness, and we appreciate all the prayers and contacts from so many. Please continue to pray for us.
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Diane Spriggs
Diane joined the Baptist Trumpet staff on Jan. 2, 1980, as a “temporary, part-time typesetter” and was named editor/business manager by the BMA of Arkansas on Nov. 3, 2005. “I had no idea what an adventure awaited me when God brought me to the Trumpet so many years ago,” said Diane. “I am truly blessed to serve my Lord in the best job a girl can have in the BMA!”
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Diane joined the Baptist Trumpet staff Jan. 2, 1980 as a “temporary, part-time typesetter” and was named editor/business manager by the BMA of Arkansas on Nov. 3, 2005. “I had no idea what an adventure awaited me when God brought me to the Trumpet so many years ago,” said Diane. “I am truly blessed to serve my Lord in the best job a girl can have in the BMA!”
She was saved in October 1959 at Park Place Baptist Church, and is now a member of Oak Park Baptist Church in Little Rock, where she is part of the sanctuary choir and the Pairs & Spares Sunday School class.
On April 14, 1967, Diane married “the love of her life,” Pat, and they have two children and two children-in-love: Robert Patrick “Bobby” & Jennifer (Mollette) Spriggs of Sherwood, and Trina Michelle & Keith Medlock of Cabot. The “lights of her life” are her grandchildren: Baleigh Ann (Garrett) Spriggs, Hunter Wayne Medlock and Savana Michelle Medlock; and her great-grandson, Lincoln David Barham.
Diane retired on Nov. 5, 2020 after serving almost 41 years on the Trumpet staff, the last 15 as editor. As the first official action of Executive Editor Jeff Herring, she was named Editor Emeritus to honor her time with the ministry she truly loves and will continue to serve and help in any way she can. She is available to speak at women’s conferences, district meetings, churches, etc.
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