February marks 10 years since arsonists burned 9 Alabama churches

It took roughly four days to reduce a handful of Baptist churches in Alabama to ashes in February 2006.

But it took the same amount of time — only four workdays — for volunteers to frame up a new building for Galilee Baptist Church, Panola, in the aftermath.

It was “a miracle,” Pastor Bob Little said. “We’ve rebuilt. And awesome stories have come out of it.”

And for the other eight churches, it’s been a very similar tale — like for Rehobeth Baptist Church, Randolph, near Lawley, where Edith Wilson is a member.

Wilson said she’ll never forget the smell and sight of her beloved church reduced to rubble.

But they’ve rebuilt. And they’re still going strong 10 years after three college-age boys set them on fire in two arson sprees.

The other four churches in the first string of arson attacks — which happened during the night between Feb. 2 and Feb. 3 — have done the same thing.

• Ashby Baptist Church, Brierfield, met in mobile chapels for several years after the fire, continuing to grow even before it moved into its new building.
• Antioch Baptist Church, Centreville — along with Old Union Baptist Church, Randolph — only suffered minor damage and made repairs fairly quickly.
• Pleasant Sabine Baptist Church, Centreville, a predominantly black church and the only 1 of the 5 not affiliated with Bibb Baptist Association, was rebuilt by Carpenters for Christ volunteers.

And in west Alabama, Galilee and the other three churches attacked Feb. 7, 2006, have bounced back and continued in ministry, thanks to help from volunteers.

• Though the inside of Dancy First Baptist Church near Aliceville was a total loss, the congregation got back into its building in July 2006, thanks to volunteer teams from Baptist churches around the state that gutted and renovated the interior of the church.
• Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Boligee is meeting in a new building constructed by volunteers. The church has a library room open to the community that was furnished with 1,000 books collected by Pickens Baptist Association.
• Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle, which suffered smoke damage, got back into its building at the end of Summer 2006.

Galilee Baptist is the only 1 of the 4 in the first string of attacks that still has the same pastor at the helm from 10 years ago. And Little said he was excited to honor what God has done with a celebration service Feb. 7 marking the anniversary.

He’s been amazed as he’s seen the church grow, join Pickens Association and reach out to the community in ways it was never able to before the fire.

“We’ve become stronger,” Little said. “We’ve been able to do a lot. We’ve seen God do so many awesome things — it’s mindboggling to see.”