HENRY COUNTY, Ga. —
Members of a local church group are counting their blessings after escaping a church fire.
The youth from McDonough's Bethany Baptist Church were on a mission trip in Nashville, Tenn., when they were awakened by the fire.
The youth was ending a week of serving at the Nashville Rescue Mission when around 5 a.m. Friday a chaperone heard a popping noise, discovering fire in the church recreation center where the group was sleeping.
"And the door just flew open and he screamed 'Fire in the kitchen! Get out, go, go, go, fire!'" a parent, Jill Bates, told Channel 2's Eric Phillips.
The group rushed out through thick smoke, leaving belongings -- even shoes -- behind.
Despite his loss, Brian Adams, said he is still thankful.
"As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather have my life than a phone," the 14-year-old said.
The chaperone, who many commended for his bravery, echoed the teen's sentiments.
"I'm just thankful God woke me up, because another couple of minutes, it would have been really bad," Jeremy Newell said.
Everyone survived the ordeal and Nashville church members pitched in to help the group with clothing and provided them a meal. The youth pastor said the incident served as a lesson in service and humility.
"That's a powerful reminder that we have to not only be willing to serve but to be willing to be served -- to humble ourselves and accept someone else helping us," Quillian Mercer said.
"I'm so happy that God saved my sister and I'm thankful that she's safe, right before Easter," adds 9-year-old Hunter Newsome.
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