Conference Helps Burned United Methodist, Baptist Churches

By Andy Ellis*

News media Contact:  Tim Tanton · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tennessee

   TITUS, Ala. -- Two local churches – one United Methodist and the other Baptist -- are rising from the ashes, thanks in part to the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference.

   On the night of June 6, fire swept through the fellowship hall at Providence United Methodist Church near Titus, destroying the building and causing extensive damage to the adjoining sanctuary. Within an hour of the Providence blaze, a fire was reported at nearby Bethlehem Baptist Church. Firefighters were unable to save the building.

   State fire marshal investigators ruled that both fires were arson and turned over information to the National Church Arson Task Force. To date, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is continuing.

   On Nov. 19, United Methodist Bishop Larry M. Goodpaster, who leads the Alabama-West Florida Conference, presented pastors from the two churches with checks totaling nearly $75,000 to assist with rebuilding efforts. The presentations were made during a joint worship service conducted by the predominantly white Providence and the predominantly black Bethlehem congregations.

   The money was raised through a special appeal made by then-Bishop William W. Morris. Following the fires, Morris asked churches in the conference to collect a special offering during the month of July to assist the two churches in their rebuilding efforts. Response to the appeal was overwhelming with donations continuing to be received through early November. Roughly 80 percent of the donated funds went to Providence, with the remainder going to Bethlehem.

   "God is building from the ashes of these two churches," the Rev. Cliff Cobb, pastor of Providence, told the 120 people gathered inside the Buyck Volunteer Fire Department on the cool, rainy Sunday morning. Volunteers from the department were among those who battled the church fires and were thanked by members of both congregations during the service.

   "We are going to rebuild and be a testimonial to the greatness of God," Cobb continued.

   The Rev. James Blackmon, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist, said he was grateful for the Providence congregation and the many United Methodist churches that had shown God’s love through their gifts and prayers. Bethlehem has begun rebuilding, while Providence expects to begin the process soon.

   The spirit of the two congregations is a testimony to what can be accomplished by trusting God, Blackmon said.

   "There is nothing that comes our way that we can’t handle with the help of God. Everything that happens works to the glory of God, if we allow him to work through us," he said.

   Following a time of prayer, which saw the group join hands and gather near a makeshift altar, Goodpaster affirmed the churches for their example.

   "You have an important testimony," he said. "You are sending an important message to those who keep struggling in a world when it looks like the other side, the evil side, is winning. What you have said to the world is that faith is not tied to a building, but rather to our relationship with God through our savior Jesus Christ."

   The bishop encouraged the two congregations to "hold fast, stand firm" and not to give up. "There are people in this world so filled with anger and frustration that they commit these unthinkable acts," he said. "But I believe that the strongest force in the world is love. God’s divine love overcomes hatred and makes it possible for us to dwell in unity."

   Members of both congregations agreed that the churches have developed a special unity as a result of the fires.

   "I thank God for the people of Providence and the people of Bethlehem. I thank God for bringing us together in this difficult time," Cobb said.

   James T. Austin, a Bethlehem deacon, called the relationship that has developed between the two congregations "the way it’s supposed to be."

   "We are all supposed to be of one accord," Austin said. "I thank God for Providence, and I’m thankful that they asked us to worship with them. When God’s people work together, great things happen."

   More information about the work of the Ministry in the Midst of Hate and Violence program is available at the Board of Global Ministries web site at http://gbgm-umc.org/programs/antihate/.

    *Ellis is director of communications for the Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in the USA.