Fire at Palin's Church has lifted churchgoers' spirits

Wasilla (Alaska, US), Dec.16 (ANI): A member of Sarah Palin's church in he hometown Wasilla has aid that the spirits of its congregants has lifted in the wake of it being destroyed by a fire.

Though Palin was not at the Wasilla Bible Church when the fire broke out last Friday, but she visited it the day after.

According to her spokesman, Bill McAllister, the governor told an assistant pastor that she was sorry if the fire was connected to the "undeserved negative attention" the church has received since she became the Republican vice presidential candidate in August.

But one churchgoer told FOX News that the fire has lifted the spirits of church members.

"It was very upbeat, people were in good spirits," Rob Tracy was quoted as saying after Sunday services, which were held at Wasilla Middle School.

"In one respect, people were reeling from the shock of the news, but in another respect, they were very positive. It felt like we had the whole family together yesterday. It's not often we have the full congregation together, but it felt like every single person was there. It was a feeling of unity, solidarity," Tracy added.

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are now the fifth agency to join the arson investigation, along with the Central Mat-Su Fire Department, Anchorage Fire Department, Wasilla Police Department and the State Fire Marshals Office.

During his sermon yesterday, Pastor Larry Kroon focused on messages of "faith, hope and love," Tracy said.

But the timing of the fire, which occurred less than two weeks before Christmas, shocked and angered some worshippers, he continued.

A message on the church's Web site read: "Praise God that no one in the building was injured, and pray for us as we rebuild." (ANI)