Just days after a spate of church arson attacks and vandalisms kicked off 2008, authorities apprehended the two men believed responsible for the east Alabama crimes.
Geoffrey Tyler Parquette, 21, and James Scott Clark, 21, were apprehended after a cross stolen from one of the churches was found in Parquette’s grandmother’s home, according to The Associated Press (AP).
Both claimed to be “professed spiritual satanists,” according to AP.
In a classroom of Woodland Baptist Church, Phenix City, in Russell Baptist Association, “Teach children to worship Satan!!” was printed in red letters on the wall, along with an upside-down pentagram.
Woodland Baptist, along with Greater Peace and Goodwill AME Church in Crawford and Greater Bethelpore Baptist Church in Smiths Station, also suffered an arson attack, and Concord Baptist Church, Salem, in Russell Association was vandalized.
Parquette and Clark entered not guilty pleas Jan. 7, a day after being arrested, according to AP. Between them, they face a slew of arson, burglary and criminal mischief charges.
And the churches face the “great challenge” of rebuilding, said Bobby Watford, pastor of Woodland.
“Everyone has been so great to us since the fire — there’s been a great outpouring from Alabama Baptists and others and we are grateful,” Watford said. “We’re doing really great. We’re trying to get everything together now but everyone is optimistic.”
For now, the congregation — which averages 80–100 on Sunday mornings — is meeting in the local Woodland Christian School.
While the church’s insurance company is debating whether to pay toward repairs or rebuilding, the church is hoping for the latter — a new start in a new building.
“The smoke went into the blocks of that old building, and so much was lost that the people would rather just tear it down and start over,” Watford said. “Some of the older members it (the fire) saddened because some of them had been there as long as the church had been there, but we’re looking forward to what the Lord is going to do.”
In the meantime, a sister congregation in the state is still waiting to hear the cause of the fire that destroyed its building late last year.
Roland Davis, pastor of Maple Springs Baptist Church, Clanton, in Chilton Baptist Association, said the church is awaiting word from the state fire marshal on why its building burned in the wee hours of Dec. 29.
“We’re hoping we’ll hear something shortly,” Davis said.
But the congregation is moving forward while it waits, he explained. A building committee was to be chosen Jan. 13 so that the church can begin to move toward rebuilding.
For now, Maple Springs Baptist’s congregation is meeting in the old sanctuary of nearby Samaria Baptist Church.
“We’ve just had so much support, and that has made the difference,” Davis said. “We really appreciate that.” (TAB)
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