A little more than two years ago, arsonists set fire to four west Alabama churches: Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church near Boligee, Galilee Baptist Church in Panola, Dancy First Baptist Church near Aliceville and Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle. Even though none of the predominantly black churches were members of Pickens Baptist Association at the time, they received support in a variety of ways from the association’s members and staff. According to Gary Farley, Pickens Association director of missions, one of those ways was encouraging the church’s leaders to view the transition as an opportunity.
"We helped them talk through their visions for their ministries," he said. As a result, Morning Star leaders began to consider new ways to reach out to young people, and they decided a library could be an effective tool. So a call for donations of children’s books went out from the association’s office and about 1,000 books came in.
"We carried them to Morning Star the day they rededicated their building," Farley said.
In February, Pickens Association took part in a two-year anniversary candlelight observance of the fires. The brief ceremony, which took place at Galilee Baptist, was a time of prayer, music and testimonies. "One of the things we’ve tried to do all along was reflect on what we were learning about God and one another," said Farley. "The ceremony was a culmination of those reflections."
Galilee Baptist Church recently joined Pickens Association.
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