Church declared a total loss after raging 3-alarm fire breaks out in Cumberland County

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, N.J. - Investigators are working to determine what caused a New Jersey church to go up in flames during Monday's powerful storms that brought strong wind, heavy rain, and bouts of lightning. 

Firefighters in Vineland were called to the Voice of Deliverance New Covenant Church around 10 p.m. and found the building completely engulfed in flames. 

The blaze struck a third alarm as it grew to consume the roof of the church, requiring roughly 70 firefighters from local and neighboring departments to extinguish. 

"The building is gone, there's no saving it," said Chief Luigi Tramontana Jr. from the Vineland Police Department. 

Officials have not said what sparked the blaze, but some have speculated that lightning may have struck the building. Chief Tramontana said agencies, including the ATF, are involved in the investigation.

Meanwhile, the church community says it's relying on their faith in more than ever to help rebuild the decades-old church that serves as a place of worship to about 200 people. 

"One thing I've learned is you trust God and we're not exempt from things happening to us, but in it, we know that God is going to bring us through," Senior Pastor Dr. Betty Hawkins said.

Church leaders say they will pivot to hold services in a still to be determined location. A GoFundMe page has been established to help the church community rebuild.