After a security threat which one source identified as a bomb threat was made to The Church at Brook Hills, Birmingham, the Secret Church event, “Christ, Culture and a Call to Action,” that was scheduled for April 24 was moved to three different locations in order to accommodate the approximately 2,000 registered participants. Around 10:30 a.m. the threat was called in to Brook Hills causing an evacuation of about 150 people including pre-kindergarten children and bringing police and fire personnel to the scene.
At press time, Radical officials were unable to comment on the nature or source of the threat since the investigation is ongoing.
Discipleship resources
Secret Church was organized by Radical, International Mission Board President David Platt’s nonprofit organization that seeks to provide discipleship resources to churches and has roots in Brook Hills, where Platt previously served as pastor. Platt also was the featured speaker for the event, simulcasting from an undisclosed local church.
According to a post on Radical’s blog, “the leadership at Brook Hills thought it wise to exercise caution and cancel the gathering on their campus. However, they, along with the team here at Radical, felt that the message was important enough that every effort should be made to continue with the simulcast.”
Philadelphia Baptist Church and Christ Church United Methodist, both in Birmingham, were already slated to host simulcasts of the event and each accepted a portion of the Brook Hills participants. Valleydale Church, Birmingham, was not originally scheduled to host the simulcast, however.
Valleydale Pastor Jason Dees said, “We just heard about the potential to be a host site literally two hours before the doors were to open.” Despite the short notice, Valleydale hosted more than 400 participants for the event and Hoover police officers provided security.
“When we heard [Brook Hills] had a need, we were going to do whatever we could to make the night a success for the sake of the gospel and for the glory of Christ. … We want to do whatever we can to help out another church or ministry that lifts up high the name of Jesus,” Dees said.
Worldwide, Secret Church 2015 had more than 55,000 people participate via simulcast from all 50 states and more than 100 countries.
Angela Stewart, communications director for Radical, said the security threat has prompted some considerations but will not prevent future events.
“The events of [April 24] definitely will have some impact but we’re in the process of analyzing that and looking forward to future simulcasting,” she said.
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