A church congregation founded in 1907 lost its building in a fire early Thursday morning.

The First Christian Church of Altus burned after what is presumed to be a lightning-induced fire that began about 3 a.m. Thursday. The single-story building, built in 1950, was a complete loss.

An official with the Altus Fire Department said an investigation is still ongoing. There were no injuries reported.

Pastor Jim Brown, who was the first civilian onlooker, said the fire, which was initially small and isolated, eventually got too big for firefighters' control. The church will be considered a total loss, he said.

Brown said the fire started in the northeast corner of the building, which is just over 12,000 feet in size. He said a small section of the southwest corner is still standing, but nearly everything in the church, except for a few children's tables and chairs, was destroyed.

Also destroyed were the church's historical records and artifacts. Brown said there are a few members who have photos and some historical items, but other than those, there were no back-ups.

"When you watch your office with years and years of mementos and collections and you know what's in there you can't replace, there's a little bit of a sinking feeling - a heart loss there - but you realize it's all things that are going to be temporal on earth anyway," he said.

Brown, who has been the senior pastor for nearly five years, said there has been an outpouring of support for his church. The congregation, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in September, consists of about 100 members.

"The church is a congregation of people, and that part is still intact," said Phil Carson, a church member for more than 50 years and chairman of the church's property committee. "When we can up and get things reorganized, we'll keep on trucking."

Carson, whose two grown children were raised in the church, said the building "is just brick and mortar, but it can be replaced."

Church leaders, including Carson, met Thursday about where the congregation can worship Sunday. Carson said there have been many offers from surrounding entities for use of their buildings, including local churches and Western Oklahoma State College, located in Altus.

The church will receive aid from the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Oklahoma, the denomination's regional organization, said the Rev. Thomas R. Jewell, regional pastor.

Jewell said all 173 Oklahoma congregations affiliated with the Disciples of Christ have been alerted to the situation and have been asked for financial assistance and prayers.

"We're shocked and saddened; however, we're grateful that there was no loss of life in this fire," Jewell said.

Brown said meetings will begin within a few days with church leaders and board members to determine how to rebuild, but he said it will turn out good in the end.

"We will pick up and move on with a little bit of tears in the process, I bet," he said.