Donations help churches regroup

Now that the suspects of the first nine burned churches have been apprehended, members of the churches say they have the peace of mind to focus on rebuilding.
   
And they are quick to add that they are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the help that’s pouring in from across the state and nation.
   
“An 86-year-old man from Alberta is making a pulpit and some other pieces for us by hand,” said Jim Parker, pastor of Ashby Baptist Church, Brierfield, in Bibb Baptist Association. 
   
Ashby Baptist was one of the five churches burned in the first spate of arsons Feb. 3. 
   
“We are so thankful,” Parker said. “And that’s just one example of how people have reached out to us.”
  
The Boston Piano Religious Trust has offered grants to each of the nine churches, plus a 10th burned church — Beaverton Free Will Baptist Church in Lamar County, which is still under investigation as a separate case. “We’ve also been offered nine pianos, two organs and a keyboard,” Parker told the Tuscaloosa News. 
   
A Boston architect wants to help Parker’s church sketch plans for its new building (see story, page 1). Three Baptist churches in Bessemer sent 500 hymnals and furniture to the church. 
   
Another pastor out of state offered the church speakers to mount in its new facility. 
   
“The response has been overwhelming,” Parker said.
   
Galilee Baptist Church in Panola, one of the four churches burned in the second string of fires Feb. 7, recently held its first Sunday service in a mobile chapel on loan from the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. 
   
And they did it with the help of Baptists like those from Cross Creek Baptist Church, Gadsden, in Etowah Baptist Association, who donated sound equipment and 80 chairs.
   
“We’ve formed some great relationships with our brothers and sisters in the Southern Baptist Convention,” Bob Little, pastor of Galilee, told the Tuscaloosa News.
   
A group of Birmingham Christian businessmen are also working to help the churches, from collecting funds for construction materials to enlisting churches to provide needed furniture and books.
   
One Birmingham contractor from the group has offered help in the form of discounted services. 
   
Another church working with them in the cause — Mount Horeb Baptist Church in Faunsdale — has committed to purchase large-print Bibles for the elderly members of Galilee Baptist, as well as those at Morning Star Missionary Baptist near Boligee, Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle and Dancy First Baptist Church near Aliceville. 
   
Some state Baptist carpenters are also meeting at Dancy First Baptist March 24 to hang dry wall in the hulled out church’s frame.
   
It’s all bringing healing, and God is getting the glory for what people are doing, Little said. 
   
“It’s not about denomination, race or gender. It’s about building the kingdom.”