Overnight Fire at Ebenezer Mennonite Church

MALTA, OH- A fire early this morning left the Ebenezer Mennonite Church in Malta, Ohio, with extensive damage that will be unable to be repaired. The Malta Fire Department responded around 3:15 a.m. after a nearby neighbor spotted the flames.

Pastor Jonas Beiler, who has been with the church for 34 years, says they suspect a furnace in the attic may have sparked the blaze, but that’s not certain.

The church also served as a school for local children, and now families are left searching for a temporary place for classes and worship. Neighboring congregations have offered space while longer-term plans are made.

Pastor Beiler says the Malta community has been tremendously supportive, and although they’re still unsure about the next steps, they do intend to rebuild once details can be worked out. No further information is available at this time.