Bois D’Arc Baptist buys burned post office building

Vacant since 2023 due to fire, church hopes to renovate structure over time
 
The former Bois D’Arc Post Office building will be changing hands following a recent purchase by the neighboring Bois D’Arc Baptist Church, with the new plan being to transform it into a food pantry.
The post office ceased operations when it burned in the summer of 2023. It has been sitting vacant ever since, with no one daring to repair the property. With the recent purchase of the building, Bois D’Arc Baptist pastor Justin Lloyd and the church are hoping not just to renovate an eyesore but to give back to the community in doing so.
“I know that our church for the longest time has really been trying to really reach into the community to meet some financial needs... by way of a food ministry, I think we would be able to do that,” said Lloyd.
The church decided to purchase the property in April of this year for the price of $15,000, according to Lloyd. They came up with this money by selling off their bus and gathering what they had in savings.
The church will likely have their work cut out for them if they plan to turn this building into a food shelter. Currently, there is no word on when the renovation will be complete; this is because the church currently does not possess the means to fully renovate the property into something more suited to their plans. Lloyd and the rest of the church are hoping that the community of Bois D’Arc and the community of Christians will lend a helping hand in their goal.
“We don’t have the financial means to be able to completely just build it outright… So for us, this is just a faith-building opportunity to trust in God for the resources we need but also establish relationships within the community and others within the Christian faith base to help us in that process,” said Lloyd.
Whether the churches’ fellow citizens decide to help has yet to be seen, but Lloyd remains hopeful. Lloyd encourages anyone who can provide assistance to contact him at 417-268-8088.