Dexter Ave. King Memorial Baptist Church on Alert Following Church Fires
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There have been a series of historically black church burnings across the country since the Charleston, South Carolina church shooting on June 17th. Now, some law enforcement officials are warning other churches to halt service but one Montgomery pastor says he will not.
Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church has been right here in Montgomery since the late 1800s. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was planned in this church’s basement and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pastored there.
Six churches with predominately black congregations have burned since 21-year-old Dylann Roof shot and killed nine people in a Charleston, South Carolina church. Authorities are investigating at least three of those fires as arson.
“It’s alarming but it’s not anything new. We saw this 50 years. We saw this 60 years ago. We saw this 100 years ago.”
Pastor Cromwell Handy of Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church says he’s aware his church could be considered a target but he says he’s not afraid.
“We are smart enough to be cautious and take precautions but we’re faithful enough not to worry.”
While he wouldn’t talk specifics, the 30-year law enforcement veteran says there are security measures in place.
“It’s a measure that we’ve maintained even prior to the recent events so we are very comfortable in where we are.”
The church holds both Sunday service and Wednesday Bible Study. Handy says there were suggestions that he cancel Bible study for four to six weeks following the Charleston shooting. But he says he wouldn’t dream of that.
“Will they keep me from holding service? Absolutely not.”
He says regardless of recent church violence, God is still in control.
“The Lord doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but of power. I venture to think what it would be like if the Lord Jesus Christ Himself stopped in the face of any threats.”
The church’s congregation are standing behind their pastor. They say they won’t let fear drive them out of the church.
