Moundville’s Pleasant Hill Church worships on church property 19 days after arson attack

On the night of April 14, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Moundville, in Hale Baptist Association was destroyed by fire. On May 3 — after only two Sundays — the church worshipped together under one roof on its own property. How that happened is a vivid example of the Cooperative Program (CP) at work. And with that example, Alabama Baptists gained a full supporter in one who didn’t totally get the CP before that moment.

Gifts from Alabama Baptists through the CP provided for the new mobile chapel that was delivered to Pleasant Hill Baptist and Pastor Chuck Weaver April 29. CP funds also allowed Alabama State Board of Missions Executive Director Rick Lance to deliver a check to Bill Wallace, Hale Association director of missions, April 19 for the church to use as they saw fit.

While he appreciated the check, Weaver — who comes out of an independent Baptist background and is in his first pastorate — admits that he didn’t realize the full impact of the gift until the next day when another check arrived in the mail.

“It was from a lady on a fixed income living in a nursing home,” he said. “And I thought ‘you know, that’s the widow’s mite.’” That’s when the Lord taught Weaver a lesson.

“The Lord told me, ‘Chuck, where do you think the money came from the State Board gave to you? It came from widows’ mites. I can gather people together that will help so many more people through the Cooperative Program than we can do on our own.’ I guess on that day I became a Southern Baptist. I saw firsthand what the Cooperative Program does.”

The rest of the story? After the mobile chapel arrived, church members spent the next few days building a deck, working on electrical and plumbing issues and preparing it for use — getting it ready for the May 3 Homecoming. Sunday School and worship were held in the mobile chapel that day.

“People have told me time and time again what a blessing it is to have our own place to worship and not have to go somewhere else,” Weaver said. “That’s what having the chapel means to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. We are home.”

“Our widows’ mites can go so much further when put in the hands of a group of people who are good stewards with it and use it for things like this,” he added. “Thank you, Alabama Baptists.”