Two more Alabama cities — Guntersville and Albertville — have voted to allow Sunday alcohol sales that the cities’ leaders say will be good for businesses and tourism.
Marshall Baptist Association and area pastors were outspoken against the move, holding prayer vigils and community meetings to encourage residents to vote “no” Aug. 25.
Joey Beck, pastor of Cahill Baptist Chapel, Albertville, led a 21-day prayer walking effort prior to the vote that included 17 people from 5 churches of varying denominations.
Although close, the Albertville vote was 1,162–1,001 in favor of Sunday alcohol sales. In Guntersville the margin was larger with 940–409 in favor.
Rick Douglas, pastor of Creek Path Baptist Church, Guntersville, joined Beck and four other pastors on the radio in an effort to defeat the Sunday sales.
“The disappointing thing was that people didn’t exercise their right to vote,” Douglas said, noting he was surprised at the small number of votes cast about such a serious decision. “We need to be exercising that freedom that men and women have given us through sacrificing their own lives.”
Beck echoed his sentiments, saying, “We (in Albertville) have roughly 22,000 residents and only 2,100 voted. That’s a sad testimony to our community.”
‘Trying to help’
Marshall Association Director of Missions Randall Stoner said, “At the meetings we shared statistics from Alabama Citizens Action Program about (how) 1 in 8 people who drink become an alcoholic, so (by not allowing Sunday alcohol sales) we were trying to help them from hurting themselves.”
Douglas agreed. “People said it’d be a boost in economy and more tax dollars to school systems, but … people don’t realize the cost of alcohol-related problems on a community.”
Still churches need to be prepared to minister to the community and its families just as it always has, he said.
“I think the main thing is just to know that we’re not mad at people who vote differently than we do,” Douglas said. “We’re going to continue to love people like we always have and use this as an opportunity to encourage and reach people for the cause of Christ.”
‘Send revival’
The Sunday sales will not start until all votes have been certified, a process that takes about a week on average.
Boaz and Arab, also in Marshall County, will vote on Sunday sales as well but the referendum was not scheduled at press time.
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