Alabama church arson total rises to 10

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Investigators have determined that a Feb. 11 Baptist church fire in northwest Alabama, was arson, bringing the total of arson fires in the state to 10. Arson investigators said the most recent fire, at Beaverton Freewill Baptist Church, could be connected to the previous nine.

The series, which started Feb. 3, have been primarily located in the western part of central Alabama, near the Mississippi border. All are rural Baptist churches.

Two churches were destroyed: Galilee Baptist in Panola and Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Boligee. Two other churches— Dancy First Baptist Church near Aliceville and Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle—were damaged. The Beaverton church was listed as heavily damaged.

"Obviously we're going to investigate these as suspected arsons," Ragan Ingram, the state assistant insurance commissioner, told the Associated Press.

Five of the congregations were predominantly black; the other five predominantly white.

"Obviously, somebody or somebodies are interested in burning down churches, whether it's hate against a race or a religion in general, we don't know," Ingram told CNN.

Mary Paluzzi, Aliceville's city manager, told Reuters, that the Dancy church was “vibrant” and its members active.

"There is no explaining how mean people can be. They hit people who don't have means and who give so much of their little."

Johnny Archibald, a member of Morning Star Baptist, told AP he didn’t know what was going on.

"Its just sickness," he said.

Both federal and state officials have swarmed to the sites, looking for clues. Rich Marianos, a spokesman for the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency, told CNN:

"This is our No. 1 priority nationally," Rich Marianos, spokesman for the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency, told CNN, adding that the federal government agency had more than 50 agents in the investigation.

The Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, joined forces with the Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council and the Christian Coalition of Alabama in calling on the Bush administration and the federal government to use every resource possible in catching and stopping the attacks.

"It is critical that the Christian community, along with the entire public, have assurances that the federal government is leaving no stone unturned in their effort to apprehend those involved in these despicable acts of hate against places of worship,” Mahoney said in a news release just days before the 10th attack. “It must be constantly stressed an attack on a church building is an attack against religious expression and the very fabric of our American way of life."

Rebuilding vowed
Despite the devastating fires, church officials vow to rebuild.

Southern Baptist Convention President Bobby Welch paid a visit to the Centerville area Feb. 4.

“The joy that we have in all of this is that we know how this is going to end,” Welch said as he surveyed the charred remains of Rehobeth Baptist Church.

“All these churches are going to come back,” said Welch, an Alabama native and pastor of First Baptist Church in Daytona Beach, Fla. “People are going to sing again. They’re going to be happy again. Souls are going to be saved again in these churches. This place will be stronger because of what has come against them, and because of the fire of the Holy Spirit of God getting ahold of their lives.”

Welch accompanied Rick Lance, executive director of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, and Steve Patrick, director of missions of the Bibb Baptist Association, in spending several hours at the sites of all five churches affected by the fires and praying with each pastor. While in the area, the men joined Alabama Gov. Bob Riley, a Baptist himself, who also visited each church.

Money already donated
By that afternoon, checks had already been received by Alabama Baptist General Disaster Relief fund, supported by Alabama churches.

It was an act of generosity which moved both pastors and church members.

“That is really a tremendous support because we sometimes think when we’re in a situation like this we’re all alone. This really reminds us we’re not alone by any means,” said Duane Schliep, pastor of Rehobeth Baptist Church, which was totally destroyed. “We see that other churches are holding us up, and all the churches which are damaged. That is sustaining us tremendously.”

Signs of rebirth were also evident among the ruins as Ashby Baptist Church experienced an extra blessing Sunday with the addition of three new members.

“What an encouragement to have three new members and not even a building to meet in,” pastor Jim Parker remarked, “but that’s what the church is, isn’t it? It’s the people.”

Kevin Quinley and Tiffany Hogge, a young couple engaged to be married, were among the new members. Why go ahead and join?

“The church didn’t get burned. It was a building, not the church,” said Quinley, a firefighter who helped battle the blaze at Ashby. “The congregation is still strong. We’ll be here to help them rebuild it. We weren’t a part of it before, but we will be now.”

With reporting by Grace Thornton and Doug Rogers.

BP news
Published, March 2006

Christian Examiner™, P.O. Box 2606 El Cajon, CA 92021 • 619-668-5100 • Fax 619-668-1115
Email: info@christianexaminer.com • Web site: www.christianexaminer.com