"The whole experience has shown us how God works," said Hannah Tschoe, Rev. Hyok Tschoe’s wife. "We’ve all been brought closer together."

The cause of the fire may never be known because of the severity of damage to the building that was home to the Korean church and a construction company.

"The beams and trusses supporting the second floor splitand twisted in half," said Jeff Bernard, chief of the Fort Lee Volunteer Fire Department. "The fire investigation unit could not conduct a full investigation."

Podonamoo Church has been able to continue its weekday services thanks to the First Reformed Church of the Palisades in Fort Lee. The New Jerusalem Church in Palisades Park has opened its doors so that parishioners can worship on Saturdays and Sundays for the time being. The Church of the Good Shepherd, Fort Lee Gospel Church, and Bethany Well Church have also offered their building space for service.

"The experience has shown us that there is a sense of charity out there," Tschoe said. "We really need to give our appreciation to everyone who has reached out to us."

The church lost books, computers, materials for Sunday school, and its microphone systems.

"We were only allowed to retrieve our not-for-profit papers and church by-laws," Tschoe said. "The floor was not safe to carry out anything heavy."

One item saved was a two-foot tall red cross, which was slightly damaged in the fire.

Tschoe said the tragedy and generosity of the local community had shed new light on how the church can continue to grow from within and help others in Fort Lee at the same time.

"We realize now what an active a role all the church should take with the rest of the community," Tschoe said. "We’ve mostly focused on the Korean community. We need to reach beyond our racial background. There are so many people in need. Now my husband and I are learning and beginning to see new things."

When asked how the younger generation is coping with the changes, Tschoe made reference to a comment Jaimee Shin, a teenage parishioner, had left on the church’s Web site.

"We don't know why our building had to be destroyed but all we have to do is stay strong and have faith in God," Shin posted on the site. "We can't let our guard down. God works in mysterious ways."

A comment made by Kiwoong Jin, another teenage parishioner mirrored Shin’s sentiments.

"I felt as if I lost a lot of good memories in our second home. But I also realized that church is just a place where we worship God," Jin stated. "I think God is basically giving us another opportunity to worship [Him] in another place and perhaps in a different way – a more new generation type of way. [We shouldn’t be] sad but thankful that God has given us another opportunity to worship."