Nine church fires in as many days seem to be telling America a new story about hate. The congregations impacted are both African-American and white, all Baptist and all rural. Dozens of FBI agents and other law enforcement officers and agencies are attempting to piece together a motive for what appears to be a pyromaniac spree against the body of Christ.
Agape Press ran a story about neighboring churches reaching out to the congregations now displaced by fire.
Federal agents distributed information to other Alabama churches about avoiding an arson attack, according to the Mobile Register. Investigators believe the fires are related and are searching for two white men in a dark SUV, a description provided by several witnesses near various churches.
According to WTOK news, between 1994 and 1996, 76 churches were burned in cases considered to be civil rights violations. Ten of those fires were in Alabama.
Rewards leading to the arrest and conviction of the arsonists responsible have been offered by two interesting sources: The American Jewish Committee, and the Birmingham-based International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers' Council U-19, according to WTOK. Apparently the State of Alabama and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also offering a reward.
Will someone cough up the culprit for a combined total of $25,000? Sure would be nice to have some answers about this one.
The Rev. Walter Hawkins, minister of Dancy First Baptist, a Bibb County church that burned, told CNN he's hoping the arsonists repent. The number of investigators continues to rise to now more than 100, according to the Christian Post.





