The Newport, Tennessee, couple had no choice but to abandon everything to save themselves.

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"Pretty much everything that we own is gone," Wagner said to the TV station.

Everything except for the Bible.

A friend who was helping the couple clean up the fire Wednesday found the remains of a Bible in the ashes. He found the book opened to a passage from John 3:16 that said, "For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

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Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez