ST. LOUIS — A week ago, the City of St. Louis condemned Mount of Olives Ministry on Marseau Street in the south side.
City officials said the church was not being kept up to code, being used for illegal purposes and was a safety hazard. As a result, all services had to immediately stop.
"When it was condemned, I felt so bad," said Anecho Chomber, a member at Mount of Olives Ministry.
Now, Chombe and other members were relieved to hear the city lifted the shutdown, and the congregation could return to its church.
"I feel so happy, and I thank God," Chombe said.
"They were there for about 20 minutes. I was surprised how fast they were in and out of the church," said the Rev. Arlie Singleton of Friendship Assembly of God, a supporter of Mount of Olives Ministry.
Singleton sold the church building to Mount of Olives Ministry three years ago. He was there when an inspector and two other city workers inspected the two-level church Tuesday morning.
"They went through the foyer area," Singleton said. "They marched through the sanctuary. They were looking at all the exits to see if there were adequate ways to get in and out of the church building. I don't think they found very much that was wrong."
Singleton said inspectors found one exit sign inside the church that needed a lightbulb.
"They also thought an exit sign should be installed in another location inside the church," Singleton said.
Singleton said the city will send Mount of Olives Ministry citations regarding the two recommendations.
Singleton has been working closely with the church because a majority of its leaders and members are from Central Africa and speak Swahili and very little English.
"I also wonder why was it an emergency if there's no emergency, and so, that's something I'm sure that's going to be difficult for the congregation to wrestle with and understand," Singleton said.
In the meantime, three suspects, Grace Kipenmdo; his brother, Mmunga Fungamali; and Pasi Heri, remain in jail, charged with kidnapping and assault, after allegedly holding a woman captive and beating her at the church.
"I would say it's a combination of a nightmare and a whirlwind," Singleton said.
Church members were relieved to hear they can reopen and resume service this Sunday.
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