A devastating fire destroyed the East Street home of Bishop Emmanuel Thiboss and his family on Wednesday afternoon.

Thiboss lived above his church, House of Bethlehem Ministries International. He was there praying when a street vendor alerted him of the blaze. According to Thiboss since the fire a family friend has provided his family with clothing pieces and they slept in their car on the beach the night of the fire.

The church was also damaged due to firefighting efforts. He said, “the water come from upstairs when they kill the fire, everything mess up in the church. I lose everything in there.”

Thiboss said he received a letter from the Department of Social Services offering to house the family. However, he is not sure how long he will be allowed to stay. “After whatever they give me I have to be a man, go work, that’s what the Bible says. From you is a man you have to go work for you own,” he said.

Investigations into the fire continue.