BRIERFIELD, Ala. (ABP) — An unlikely pair shared the pulpit at Judson College's weekly chapel Sept. 18.
Jim Parker is pastor of the Ashby Baptist Church in Brierfield, Ala., the second of nine Alabama churches burned by arsonists in February 2006. Kim Cloyd is the mother of Matthew Cloyd, one of three college students who confessed to the church burnings. Matthew Cloyd is now in federal prison in Oakdale, La.
“Jim Parker is my hero,” Kim Cloyd told students at the Baptist college in Marion, Ala. “I met him at a dinner we were invited to at Birmingham Southern College after the arrests, and he's been our friend ever since. His church was the first one we visited to pray with the parishioners and to ask their forgiveness.”
Parker began the chapel service by telling of his church's fire — one of five churches that burned Feb. 3. Four additional churches burned the following week.
Federal investigators concluded an investigation and manhunt March 7 when ATF officers knocked on the Cloyds' door in suburban Birmingham, Ala.
“They asked to see our dark SUV,” Cloyd said. “I explained that it belonged to our son, and he'd be home at six. They returned and remained for 18 hours. We cooperated fully, and they took evidence from our home. Later our son was arrested for his part in the crime.”
Investigators traced tire tracks from one of the churches to those on Matthew Cloyd's SUV. Matthew Cloyd and two companions confessed to the crimes. He received a federal sentence of eight years and a two-year sentence in state prison.
Parker told chapel students of the conflicting emotions he and his congregation felt after the fire.
“We were disturbed, of course,” he said. “The men of my church kept in touch with me constantly for those 30 days, thinking my life might be in danger. But after the arrests, God gave us an opportunity. C. S. Lewis once said that forgiveness is a lovely idea until you have someone to forgive! [But] the Bible speaks of the 'ministry of reconciliation,' and we had a chance to minister.”
One way Parker ministered was by requesting a visit with the three arsonists. It was difficult to see them, because they were in federal custody, but he persisted and was given 15 minutes with each of them.
“I told them God will forgive them if they ask him, and we forgive them, too,” he said.
Parker was also an advocate for leniency in the arsonists' sentencing. In personal meetings with Alabama Attorney General Troy King and Fourth Circuit District Attorney Michael Jackson, he urged them to consider restitution in lieu of lengthy jail time. Federal guidelines allowed a five year sentence for each of the nine churches.
“Having these boys in prison for 45 years wouldn't help anyone,” Parker said.
Parker said the tragedy even brought about a blessing from God.
“We built a larger facility that we needed,” he said. “And we learned again that the church is much more than a building. The morning of the fire someone noted we'd lost our church. One of our members, Barbara Edwards, spoke up. 'Our building's gone, but our church is still here,' she said.”
Kim Cloyd, too, said her life had changed forever after the fires.
“We were the typical American family until March 7, when everything shattered,” she said. “Everyone liked Matthew. He never met a stranger. He was never in trouble before and had a scholarship to college.”
Cloyd and her husband, Michael Cloyd, felt compelled to visit the affected churches and talk with members. Beginning with their visit to Ashby, they continued until they completed the task and are in process of visiting all nine again as the new buildings are dedicated.
“We called the pastors and told them we'd like to come,” she explained. “And we requested no media. These were private gatherings. We met wonderful, loving Christian friends, many of whom told us their stories of personal struggles.”
Cloyd told her student audience they represented the future and must make wise decisions.
“My son made some terrible choices under the influence of alcohol and drugs,” she said. “I hope you will respect yourself enough not to be talked into doing something you know to be wrong. Learn to say 'no.' Ultimately, you answer to God.”
Cloyd said her son is doing landscape work in prison and continuing his education through an extension program with LSU.
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