The Main Attraction

I wonder how many of you have heard of 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama? I was there on Sunday for worship - which, by the way, was almost two hours long (ya'll better not ever complain about being 10 minutes late for brunch ever again!). It was a high energy, joyous celebration filled with great gospel music that had us on our feet dancing and a raucous, spirit-filled sermon that brought on many "Amens," lots of clapping, and even a few standing ovations. It was pure joy to be able to worship with this Spirit-filled congregation. 

It is amazing that this congregation is still vibrant and active because 62 years ago, on September 15, 1963, three white supremacists planted 19 sticks of dynamite outside the basement of the church. The congregation greeted each other before the start of Sunday service that day. In the basement of the church, five young girls, two of them sisters, gathered in the ladies lounge in their best dresses, happily chatting about the first days of the new school year. It was Youth Day and excitement filled the air, they were going to take part in the Sunday adult service.

At 10:22am, instead of rising to begin prayers, the congregation was knocked to the ground. As a bomb exploded under the steps of the church, they sought safety under the pews and shielded each other from falling debris. In the basement, four little girls were killed—Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. Addie's sister, Sarah, survived, but lost her right eye. Later that same evening, in different parts of town, a black youth was killed by police and one was murdered by a mob of white men. It was a shocking, terrifying day in the history of Birmingham, and a day that forced white leaders to further come to grips with the city’s bitter racist reputation.

This church became a target because it hosted mass meetings where leaders like Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would prepare young people for non-violent marches for civil rights causes like voting rights and desegregation. There were multiple instances of police brutality outside the church, and Birmingham itself was nicknamed "Bombingham" because there were 21 bombings in the eight years leading up to this bombing that took the lives of innocent children. 

All of this is truth, but what I really want you to know is that this church was rebuilt and has remained a vibrant, active community of faith. They honor and remember their brutal and difficult history by sharing this story in a history center in the basement, and they also do amazing ministry today, and are building and planning for the future. 

When you enter this church or speak to any member they will say to you, "Welcome to 16th Street Baptist Church, where Jesus Christ is the main attraction." The story is not the main attraction. The hate that caused innocent children to die is not the main attraction. Politicians are not the main attraction. Pastors are not the main attraction and not even their pivotal place in the civil rights movement is the main attraction.

Jesus Christ is the main attraction. 

Let us ask ourselves, what is the main attraction at Key West United Methodist Church? If the answer is anything other than Jesus, then we have some work to do.......

Grace and Peace,

-Pastor Madeline