Alabama Baptists rush to aid fire-damaged churches

As the first shockwave of news about the church fires rippled across the state and nation Feb. 3, state missionaries were already preparing ways to send immediate aid.
   
Within a week of the first fires (see story, page 1), three mobile chapels provided by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) were on site in Bibb Baptist Association.
   
All nine fire-damaged churches had received financial assistance as well, accoding to Bobby DuBois, SBOM associate executive director.
   
Rick Lance, SBOM executive director, said that “while [the gifts are] a tangible expression of love, that’s not all there is because prayer support is the most important thing.”
   
Pastor Jim Parker, whose church, Ashby Baptist in Brierfield, was completely lost, said he and his congregation are thankful for all of the support.
   
“We want to share our gratitude to Southern Baptists here and across the country for their magnanimous spirit,” Parker said, noting that having the Cooperative Program help his church so directly “awes you and humbles you a bit.”
   
Having two mobile chapels — one for worship services and one for educational space — on the church’s site will help give back to the church its presence in the community, he said. “It brings us back to where we need to be in the center of the community. It will help our folks in the healing process to come back here and understand we’re going to go on here. ”
   
Dan McGee, a member of Rehobeth Baptist Church, Randolph, for more than 25 years, said the mobile chapel his church is using for an educational facility is “a godsend.”
   
Rehobeth Baptist moved its services into its fellowship hall after the fire but in doing so, lost classroom space. “We would be in great trouble if we didn’t have something like this — it’s such a blessing for us to have it here,” McGee said.
   
According to DuBois, other fire-damaged churches have been approached, based on need, about the option of getting a mobile chapel, but two have already declined the offer and made other arrangements.
   
The mobile chapels are part of a ministry offered by SBOM for new church starts and churches in crisis situations.
   
Another ministry that aided Rehobeth in retaining its more than 175-year heritage is the Alabama Baptist Historical Commission (ABHC), which archived the church’s historical documents prior to the fire, said Frances Hamilton, ABHC executive director.
   
Steve Patrick, Bibb Association director of missions, said he can’t say enough about the support of Alabama Baptists.
   
“The ready response from Dr. Lance and the other churches has been phenomenal,” he said. “The sense of loss they have is great … but they are all appreciative (for the help).”