DALLAS (ABP) — Fire damaged four more rural Baptist churches in Alabama the morning of Feb. 7, bringing the total number of Alabama churches recently burned to nine. All of the churches affected were Baptist.
The second batch of fires occurred near the Alabama-Mississippi boarder, in sparsely populated Greene, Pickens and Sumter counties, roughly 60 miles from the original fires that happened in Bibb County.
While federal investigators and local officials continue to investigate the cause of the blazes, which they suspect is arson, a spokesman for the fire investigation insurance agency told reporters they had not determined a connection between the two rounds of fires. Investigators determined a 10th church burned on Feb. 3 in Chilton County was accidental.
Austin Banks, a senior special agent for the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, said fire completely destroyed the Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, near Boligee, and Galilee Baptist Church in Panola. Dancy Baptist Church near Aliceville and Spring Valley Baptist Church near Emelle suffered some damage, according to the New York Times.
Banks told the Times the bureau continues to evaluate reports of a “dark-colored SUV, possibly a Pathfinder” at three of last week's fires. He said several fires were set on church organs, while others were started in the area of the altar.
Federal Bureau of Investigation officials have also begun work on evaluating the fires as a civil-rights violations; a 1996 law makes burning churches a federal crime. Tuscaloosa News reported that the four latest fires targeted predominantly African-American congregations.
Local congregations have rallied to provide support to their sister churches. The Alabama Baptist Convention arranged a fund for donations and deployed mobile chapels so congregations can continue meeting.
Rick Lance, the executive director of the Alabama Baptist Convention, said prayer must be the first response of any “concerned Christian” to word of the destruction.
“This crisis illustrates at least two truths,” he said in a statement about the fires. “First, we live in an imperfect world in which we experience tragedy. Second, these tragedies of life present us with ways to respond proactively in sharing God's love by helping others.”
Workers at the Alabama Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries have also offered free counseling for members of affected churches at no cost, according to The Alabama Baptist.
Bobby Welch, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, offered his support as well, the newspaper reported.
“I am overwhelmed with concern and tremendously burdened for the pastors and members of the churches, as well as the communities in which they have carried out Christ-centered ministries throughout all these past years,” Welch said. “This is one of the many critical times when I am so, so thankful and proud of our SBC churches.”
-30-