Newspaper Page Text
14
August 29, 1996 AUGUSTA FOCUS
Pastors hear from experts
on how to prevent church fires
LOUISVILLE, Ky.
(AP) Arson experts converged
on a Jefferson County church,
but it wasn’t to investigate a fire.
The gathering Thursday at
First Baptist Church of
Jeffersontown was a chance for
pastorstolearn what they cando
to protect their churches from
fires.
“I certainly learned a lot about
how to keep my church safe from
fire,” said the Rev. Windell Hunn,
pastorofthe First Baptist Church
of Springfield. “We’re in a rural
area and I have some real con
cerns” because of the recent spate
of church burnings in the South.
The meeting sponsored by state
Rep. Steve Riggs, D-Louisville,
and the Rev. Thurmond Coleman
Sr., was sparsely attended—soo
National Baptists cancel
Farrakhan speaking engagement
NASHVILLE, Tenn.
(AP) Nation of Islam Leader
Louis Farrakhan will be speak
ing today, but it won't be at the
Baptist World Center.
“I did not support Minister
Farrakhan when he led the Mil
Drive-in theater offers free admission, |
free food, free redemption
COLUMBUS, Ohio
(AP) For 40 years, a drive-in
sitting in a little meadow just
south of downtown has offered
free admission, free concessions
and free movies for the whole
family.
The Free Christian Drive-in
also offers visitors redemption at
no extra charge.
The drive-in brings religious
experiences and lessons out from
under the stained glass and into
the night air and the comfort of
“your own pew,” said owner Jim
my Rea Jr.
“All of our films are enter
tainment,” Rea said. “A guy
doesn’t just stand up there
preaching.”
The theater was owned and
operated by his father, Jimmy
‘ g_ Williams Memorial
% .!v o~ ta‘umul :“
&Y/ C.M.E. Church
' Rev. Alex R. King
1630 Fifteenth St. Augusta, GA 30901
(706) 733-9430
Sunday: Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Worship Service 11:00 a.m.
Ist Sunday Evening 6:30 p.m.
Wed: Praise Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
Thurs: Senior Services 10:00 a.m.
Day Care
Center: 6:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m.,
][ nfilfl]) € II"]UI&C]I@
Baptist Church
Dr. C.S. Hamilton, Minister
1223 Laney-Walker Blvd.
Augusta, Ga. 30901
Church School 9:30 A.M. * Morning Worship 11
AM. Broadcast Hour QVT HB 155912 * Nursery,
Kindergarten Open ¢ Bible Study-Tues. 6 P.M.
Prayer Nfeeting Tges. 7PM.* Daif;' Kindergarten
Services 7 A.M. to 5 P.M.
invitations were sent, but only
eight pastors showed up.
Louisville Fire Chief John
Corso and representatives of
Kentucky State Police and the
state fire marshal’s office spent
most of the meeting describing
steps pastors can take to make
their churches more secure
against arson.
Some of the measures, such as
sprinkler systems and outside
lighting, are expensive. But the
Rev. Lawrence D. Gassett, a Bap
tist minister from Garrard Coun
ty, said it’s something his con
gregation will have to consider.
“My church is out in the coun
try,” Gassett said. “There’s not
evena firehydrant nearby. We’re
going to be taking a long look at
what I heard about today.”
lion Man March, and I do not
support him or his principles
now,” said Rev. Henry Lyons,
the Baptists’ national president
and a St. Petersburg, Fla. pas
tor.
Farrakhan was supposed to
Rea Sr., until his death three
years ago. Now, the younger Rea
runs the projector — or at least
tries to.
“I think the devil comes out
here and plays havoc with that
projector,” he said, referring to
the temperamental relic. “He’s a
pretty good scapegoat anyway.”
Several volunteers — includ
ing Rea’s son, daughter and
mother — work at the concession
stand, nicknamed “The Ark.”
Rea, who is not an ordained
minister, leads the nondenomi
national audience in a prayer
before and after the shows, and
an offering is taken.
All earnings go to pay for
advertising. He recently target
ed Columbus rock-oriented ra
dio audiences listening to “the
Spirit Church News
Corso told the gathering that
there were 1,450 church fires
nationallylast year =« about four
a day. A third of those fires were
arson, he said.
Churches are a popular target
because they are unoccupied
most of the time, Corso said. He
said that 50 percent of all arsons
are started by juveniles.
Although Corso’s arson inves
tigators make arrests in 70 per
cent to 80 percent of their cases,
the national averageis only about
25 percent, he said..
That’s also the state’s average,
and Riggsthinks it can dobetter.
He told the pastors he intends to
introduce legislationi that would
set aside money for the state
police to hire more arson investi
gators—there are now 16—and
speak at the center, headquar
ters of the National Baptist Con
vention USA Ine,, after address
ing the National Asseciation of
Black Journalists as their annu
al convention. :
But Lyons said, “I will never
two stations the devil has his
radio tuned to.” . wi
Last Friday, about 80 cars
were at the theater to see The
Appointment, a film about a re
porter who writes “anti-God”
editorials until sheis struck dead
after a prophetic visitor warns of
her fate. -
The headliner that night,
Burning Hell, graphically depicts
the Bible’sunderworld. The mov
ie warns against viewing by
young children.
- While the movies may have
been graphic, “they’re spoken
'FOCUS your church luncheons or dinners in a fine restau
rant. Visit BL's Restaurant at 1117 Laney-Walker Blvd. or
call (706) 828-7799 to arrange your church celebrations.
Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church -
623 Crawford Avenue
Augusta, Georgia 30904
Rev. Larry W. Hudson, Sr. Pastor
Office: (706) 736-4060
Sunday | Wednesday
9:30 Sunday School 7:00 Bible Study
1 11:00 Worship Service
We Invite You To
BEULAH GROVE
BAPTIST CHURCH
Dr. Sam Davis, pastor
1434 POPLAR STREET
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA 30901
TELEPHONE: (706) 724-1086
‘ a.m., 11:00 a.m., and 7:30 p.m.
Baptist Training Union (8.T.U.) at 6:00 p.m. Sunday
Sunday School at 9:30 Sunday morning
Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, and 9:30 a.m. Saturday
e _ e ic at 11:00 Saturday morning
; Thirty-five Christian Ministries
All Services Are Bible-based and Holy Spirit-led
a couple of arson dogs. The state
doesn’t have such dogs now.
The dogs, which cost about
SIO,OOO each, are trained to sniff
for flammables, Riggs said.
In a related matter, U.S. Sen.
Wendell Ford announced Thurs
day that Kentucky is one of 13
states that will receive money
under the new $6 million Church
Arson Prevention Grant Pro
gram.
Each county in the state is eli
gible for a one-time award of
$4,600 for enhanced security
measures around churches, in
creased police patrols, investiga
tion expenses and educational
efforts aimed at ending church
arson.
condone Minister Farrakhan
speaking in one of our facilities
nor joining hands with our
churches.”
Farrakhan will instead be
speaking at the Jefferson Street
Baptist Church.
straight from the word of God —
not from something manmade
that is supposed to thrill you,”
said Margaret Ray of
Reynoldsburg.
She and her husband, Ken,
traveled the extra mile from their
suburban Columbus home across
town on behalf of their four chil
dren. Their neighborhood the
ater was showing movies unfit
for kids under age 13, Mrs. Ray
said. :
“The standard theaters are
getting worse and worse and
worse,” she said.
B ———————— e o
B The Good Shepherd Baptist Church will be holding a revival
through Friday, August 30, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Dr. C.A.W. Clark
will be the guest revivalist. Rev. K.B. Martin will be the guest
lecturer. "1
B The Bethel AM.E. Church, 623 Crawford Ave., will be
holding its annual revival through August 30, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Wesley 1. Reid will be guest pastor. Rev. Larry W.
Hudson Sr. is pastor. o
B Coastal Regional Health Consultants, in association with
Transmix Inc., will be hosting an evening of gospel music and giving
a message of hope to love and care for our fellow man on Friday,
August 30, at the Living Word Christian Center at 7 p.m. A love
offering as a donation will go to benefit two in-care homes providing
housing and healthcare for H.I.V. patients. :
B Macedonia Baptist Church, 1828 Wrightsboro Rd., has free
clothing for those in need. The Clothes Closet hours of operation are
11 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Saturdays. For additional information, please
contact Ms. Candy Katz at 737-6834 (Monday, Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday).
B The Local Mosque of the Nation of Islam welcomes Minister
Abdur Bey Muhammad of Miami, Fla. to Augusta’s Belle Terrace
Community Center, 2454 Golden Camp Rd., on Saturday, August
31, at 7 p.m. Minister Bey is a national minister for the Honor%%le
Louis Farrakhan and was a minister in Monroe, La. for the Hotior
able Elijah Muhammad in the ‘6os and ‘7os. He was a pioneer. for
Islam in the South and survived a lynching in Louisiana due to his
tremendous faith in his God. He has chosen Augusta, Ga. to release
his new book, Louisiana Lynching: A Modern Day Legacy of an Ex-
Slave, and will be speaking of his experiences in the South, and
signing copies of his book at this historic event. For more informa
tion and interview requests, please reply to Charles Muhammad at
1-800-367-5616. o :
B Millbrook Baptist, Grace United Methodist and Aiken’s
St. John’s United Methodist Churches will be joining together
to offer an evening of fun, entertainment, learning and spiritual
growth for singles of all ages and stages. The CSRA Singlefest will
be held Saturday, September 7, from 5 - 9 p.m. at the North Augusta
Riverview Park. Participants may join in line dancing, games,
singing, eating, learning and listening to music from local DJ Don
Barclay. Bryan Dickert with WAFJ radio will offer a devotional on
service to God. Cost for the Singlefest is $4 per person with a $lO
maximum charge for a family. Participants are asked to bring a side
dish to share. Paid registration before Friday, August 30, will
qualify individuals for door prizes. For more information Or a
registration form, call Grace United Methodist Church at (803) 279-
7525 or visit Grace’s Web site at www.csra.net/!grace/singlfst/.
Grace United Methodist Church announces a series of sméll
groups and special sessions open to community members. Ron
Levin, popular professional religious speaker, will be discussing
“Martin Luther and Our Faith” on September 4 at 6:30 p.m. Small
groups will focus on a variety of topics: adult bible study, adult
handbells, biblical wisdom books in modern day, career transitions,
disciple bible study classes, young adult devotions and other ses
sions. Community members are welcome to all sessions and groupg.
Contact the church at (803) 279-7525 for more information. it
St. Mark United Methodist Church, 1296 Marks Church Road,
will be holding fall revival Tuesday, September 3 through Fridax',
September 6, beginning 7 p.m. nightly. Guest preachers for the
week will be: Sept. 3 - Rev. C.J. Shufford Jr.; Sept. 4 - Rev. Betts
Jones; Sept. 5 - Rev. A.C. Epps III; and Sept. 6 - Rev. Paul Bush. S?f
Mark will be celebrating their 115th Homecoming Anniversary oh
Sunday, September 8, at 3 p.m. Rev. Sam Davis will be the guest
preacher. Rev. Reginald Maurice Copeland is pastor. :
T
i
N oy
It’s Coming!
The
Fourth Annual
CSRA CLASSIC
October 19, 1996