Church in Ocean Park in need of $100,000 in donations in order to reopen

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - As she showed us the main sanctuary of the Church in Ocean Park, Rev. Janet Gollery McKeithen pointed to the ceiling and said, "About six months ago the ceiling from up there came crashing down to the ground. Nobody was hurt, luckily."

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She held a chunk of what came down and said, "If this were to hit somebody on the head it could really hurt from that distance." 

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The problem is that the ceiling is full of areas waiting to drop, she added.

As a result, back in April, church officials decided to close the sanctuary to the public. 

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This place where people have prayed and where there are all kinds of activities for all kinds of people have gone on. 

McKeithen is a United Methodist Minister. The church is interfaith. 

"We have Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists… whatever you want it’s all here," said Marty Liboff, a church member who sings in the choir. 

The problem is the almost 100-year-old building… is old. There are signs of aging in a neighborhood that had some of Santa Monica’s earliest residents. And, while the building is insured McKeithen says "old age" isn’t covered. 

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The church needs $100,000 to fix the ceiling. She and church members worry the whole thing could come tumbling down. Liboff says if the place had to close for good, "it would be terrible for the whole community... But, we may be lucky and find some millionaires."

Mckeithen is just hoping for community members to pitch in and has set up a GoFundMe account. 

But, if they don’t raise the money could they have to close the church? McKeithen says, "I don’t like to think about that but that is a possibility."