UPDATE @ 10/10/11 @ 10 p.m.
MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) – A couple old wooden crosses are all that remain from the original Hemlock Grove Christian Church.

The crosses now hang in the new church building as a reminder of the congregation’s past. The crosses were made from a beam sawed in 1866 that was saved from the charred ruins after the 145 year old church was burned to the ground in August of last year.

Sunday, the body of believers who worshiped there celebrated a new beginning.

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The congregation dedicated a brand new building, thanks in part to nearly 100 thousand dollars donated by about 50 churches from 17 states.

Sara Cullums says she went to church in the old building for more than 80 years. She says the church family sticking together is evidence no matter how much physical damage you may cause, you can’t touch the church’s spirit.

"Everybody held together,” Cullums said, “and I think that's the main thing. With a lot of faith and a lot of prayers, everything has worked out fine."

Four young people were incarcerated for the arson.

"From the beginning we've had a message of forgiveness," Church board secretary Courtney Midkiff said.

Midkiff says the church is not only happy to have a new place to worship, but they're also pleased with the new direction of the young people's lives.

She says those who didn’t complete their high school education are working toward their GED’s.

“I just think if God hadn't gotten them off the path they were on, they might not be here today or might have had a further destructive life,” she said.

The sanctuary of the new church can hold about 130 people. It was built in the same area where the previous structure stood.

Four suspects have since been charged with the crime. The fourth suspect, Erin Hawkins, received her sentence Wednesday.

Church members say it's been a difficult six months, but now they can finally feel a sense of closure.

"I didn't do anything for about six, seven weeks,” church member Sara Cullums said. “I just couldn't get myself adjusted."

Cullums has been a member of the Hemlock Grove Christian Church for more than 80 years.

She says she was devastated when she heard the 150-year-old building was burnt down.

"My father built the pulpit,” she said. “There are just a lot of things I can remember that really meant a lot to me."

For the past six months, the congregation has met in the Hemlock Grange building across the street.

"We've been moving forward,” church member Courtney Midkiff said. “I think we've been moving forward since the morning of the fire."

Members of the congregation say with the four suspects now each facing between 8 and 10 years in prison, they're relieved to have some resolution.

"I think what they have got is sufficient,” Cullums said, “because I figure if they put more on them, it'll just make them worse instead of better, and I think they have plenty. I hope they'll wake up."

Midkiff says she's exchanged letters with each of the suspects, who've shown remorse.

"I think they're going to be on the right road, even though God's got them in a timeout,” Midkiff said. “It's not a pleasant timeout I'm sure, but it's one they can be productive in, and that's what I wish for them."

"I've forgiven them,” Cullums said. “It's hard, and it still hurts, but still I forgive them."

Church members say they hired a contractor this week to build a new church in the same spot as the old one.

They're hopeful if weather cooperates, they'll be worshipping in their new building in a soon as three months.

More than 300 people have donated money to help the church out.

Each of the four suspects has to pay 97 thousand dollars in restitution to the church.

Erin Hawkins, 24, was sentenced to additional four years in prison on Wednesday as part of a plea deal. Hawkins was previously sentenced to five years in prison back in November as part of the seven count indictment against her.

Like her co-defendants, she will have to pay $97,000 in restitution to the church.

Prosecutors tell WSAZ.com they believe Hawkins provided the motor oil that was used to set the Hemlock Grove Christian Church on fire back in August.

Hawkins will be on probation for eight years following her release from prison.

Joseph Satterfield was sentenced on February 2 in the Meigs County Common Pleas Court, but information was just released this week.

Judge Fred Crow III sentenced Satterfield to one year each on charges of breaking and entering and possession of criminal tools. Satterfield was also sentenced to five years for vandalism and 18 months for arson. He will spend a total of eight and a half years in prison. After his prison sentence, Satterfield will spend five years on community control for tampering with evidence. He was also sentenced to three years of mandatory post release control.

All four people involved in the burning down of the church have to pay $97,000 in restitution to the church congregation.

Erin Hawkins is the only one who has not been sentenced in this case. She is scheduled to be sentenced later this month.

Jeffrey Mullins, the man who investigators say actually lit the match that started the fire, was sentenced on Thursday in a Meigs County courtroom.

He received a 10 year prison sentence with the possibility for community control once those 10 years are served.

Mullins will also have to pay $97,000 in restitution.

Christopher Divers was sentenced on Wednesday and received an eight year prison sentence with the same restitution.

The teenager pleaded guilty to several charges, but his family tells a story of a much different child growing up.

“I could see it if he was a bad kid who police had to always bring home, stayed out late, or was a problem,” Nikki Divers said.

But, Nikki says her son Christopher was always well behaved, a model big brother, an enthusiastic singer for local Christian rock bands and a regular church-goer.

“He was always a part of youth groups," she said. "I always took him to vacation Bible school since he was a baby. I took him to Sunday School."

That's why news that Christopher and three others burned down the Hemlock Grove Christian Church in Meigs County and spray painted hate symbols on it last August came as such a shock.

“All three of the boys participated in the burning of the church,” Meigs County Assistant Prosecutor Matt Donahue said.

“We offer a message of mercy and forgiveness,” Courtney Midkiff said.

Midkiff is the church secretary. She and other members spoke with the defendants and presented each of them with a Bible.

“We told them that this was their timeout from God and hopefully they will take advantage of all of the opportunities given to them,” Midkiff said.

“It’s just so hard because we miss him so much. We were all so close,” Nikki said.

“Good luck, son,” said Judge Fred Crow, Meigs County Court of Common Pleas.

For Christopher, it's a sentence of eight years to think about what he's done and come out a new man.

He pleaded guilty to seven counts including breaking and entering, vandalism, arson and desecration. Christopher was the first of the four defendants to cooperate with the investigation. That was taken into consideration in his sentencing.

Christopher Divers was sentenced to eight years in prison for breaking and entering, vandalism, arson, discretion, tampering with evidence and possessing criminal tools.

After serving his prison sentence, Divers will be on community control for five years and will have to perform 500 hours of community service.

Divers also has to pay $97,000 in restitution to the Hemlock Grove Church of Christ.

The church was burnt down in August 2010.

Jeffrey Mullins was also supposed to be sentenced Wednesday, but his attorney did not show up. His sentencing may happen Thursday.

Joseph Satterfield and Erin Hawkins are scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Jeffrey Mullins,18 of Rutland, Ohio entered the plea during a hearing in Meigs County Common Pleas Court on Monday.

Prosecutors say Mullins pleaded guilty to the seven counts against him.

The charges include arson, breaking and entering, desecration, tampering with evidence and vandalism.

He will be sentenced in February and faces up to 19 years in prison plus thousands of dollars in fines

The fire destroyed the Hemlock Grove Church of Christ back in August.

Mullins three other co-defendants --Joseph Satterfield, Erin Hawkins, and Christopher Divers – have already pleaded guilty to their roles in the crime.

Each is awaiting their full sentencing

UPDATE 11/22/10 @ 4:40 p.m.
MEIGS COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) -- Two more people have been sentenced in connection with the burning down of the Hemlock Grove Church in Meigs County, Ohio.

Monday Joseph Satterfield and Erin Hawkins both made guilty pleas to the seven counts they are facing. Some of their pleas were to charges like breaking and entering, desecrating a church and endangering firefighters.

Satterfield was sentenced on one of those counts to a year in prison.

Hawkins was sentenced on two counts and received five years in prison.

The two will be sentenced on the remaining counts, after Jeffrey Mullins goes to trial next month for his role in the arson.

Christopher Divers has already been sentenced to four years in prison for his role, and will also be sentenced on the other pending charges after Mullins' trial.

A federal investigation has begun to look into the arson.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

Christopher Divers, 19, of New Haven, W.Va. pleaded guilty to a seven count indictment on Wednesday in Meigs County Common Plea Court. The pleas include breaking and entering, arson, vandalism, desecration and tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors tell WSAZ.com, Divers faces up to 13 ½ years in prison when he is sentenced in January.

The fire destroyed the Hemlock Grove Church of Christ back in August.

The other defendants, Joseph Satterfield, 18, of Racine, Ohio, Jeffery Mullins, 18 of Rutland, Ohio, and Erin Hawkins, 23, of Pomeroy, are scheduled to stand trial next month.

The fire earlier this month, destroyed the Hemlock Grove Church of Christ.

Joseph Satterfield, 18, Jeffery Mullins, 18, Erin Hawkins, 23, and Christopher Divers, 19, were arrested several hours after the fire was reported.

Each now face seven counts in connection with the fire that destroyed the 150 year old church.

The counts include breaking and entering, arson, vandalism, desecration and tampering with evidence.

The four are all scheduled to go to trial November 9.

Joseph Satterfield, 18, Jeffery Mullins, 18, Erin Hawkins, 23, and Christopher Divers, 19, were all appointed separate lawyers to represent them in court.

Each had their bond set at $250,000.

They are scheduled to be back in court Friday, August 20 for a pre-trial hearing.

Meigs County Sheriff Robert Beegle tells WSAZ.com the four are Joseph Satterfield, 18, of Racine, Ohio, Jeffery Mullins, 18 of Rutland, Ohio, Erin Hawkins, 23, of Pomeroy, Ohio, and Christopher Divers, 19, of New Haven, W.Va.

Sheriff Beegle says Divers, Mullins and Satterfield are charged with breaking and entering, arson and desecration. Hawkins is charged with breaking and entering, complicity to arson and desecration.

Beegle says the four were arrested at Hawkins’ residence with the assistance of several area residents.

He says one resident spotted a car leaving from the church at a high rate of speed shortly after the fire started. The resident also got the car’s license plate information. The Sheriff say another resident then spotted the car at a house in Pomeroy. Beegle says officers went to the house and took the four in for questioning.

The Sheriff says all four people gave statement to investigators. They are now being held in various Meigs County jails.

They are expected to be in court on Thursday.

The Sheriff says the State Fire Marshal, FBI and ATF were all part of the joint investigation.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.

"My great-grandfather donated the land, and the lumber was cut off his land," church Deacon Jack Welker said. "The bell is salvageable and some of the timbers. We may be able to make a platform to put the bell."

Several suspects are being questioned about the alleged arson and desecration seen in a photo as the church burned.

"There were a lot of weddings here," church organist Paula Welker said. "We average 25 people on Sunday, but it's been open all these years since 1864. The sadness is the Bible from the 1800s was burned up in the church and the communion the organ and the piano.A church isn't a building ... it's the people in that building."

And now those people are hurt and angry, but determined to rebuild and punish those responsible.

"Everybody was sad," Jack Welker said. "There was some tears shed as they watched the firemen work. By the time everyone had left, it was upbeat and positive. We will rebuild."

As it turns out, the church was insured. Church elders say they'll hold services across the street at the Hemlock Grove Grange until they rebuild.

Firefighters were called to the Hemlock Grove Christian Church shortly after 4:30 a.m. Tuesday. The church is located along Township Road 162.

Our crew on the scene found graffiti written on parts of the building that remains standing.

There's no word yet on how the fire started. Investigators with the Ohio State Fire Marshal's Office were called to the scene.

The church was built in 1864 and currently has 30 members.

Investigators with the Meigs County Sheriff's Office are questioning a number of people about the fire. There have been no arrests yet.

The Sheriff is expecting to release more information Tuesday
afternoon.

Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for updated information.