FIRST Baptist Church located in Wetumpka, Ala, retuned a sum of $25,000 donation from a casino. Due to tornado, which damaged the main church chapel and a two-story multipurpose building.
The check of this donation was never cashed as the church voted on February 10 to return the money.
Pastor James Troglen said; “I pointed out we can’t keep this,” “If it keeps one person from listening to us with the gospel, we can’t keep it.” He added.
However, the casino known as Wind Creek did not only donate to First Baptist Church but also First Presbyterian Church whose building was completely destroyed with$50,000 and police department with $25,000 in total of $100,000 including $25,000 for First Baptist.
On the other hand, Pastor Jonathan Yarboro noted that the congregation of his church, First Presbyterian Church accepted the check to rebuild the community.
“Thankfully we were over insured,” Yarboro told The Wetumpka Herald. “Their intention was to use it to rebuild our building. We asked if we did not need it for that purpose if we could use it to help rebuild the community at large and they said yes.”
First Baptist Pastor noted that church opposes gambling tracing from history during a sermon on February 3. Making the church to cast a vote on 10th of Feburary with 300 in attendance.
He said, “To have that many on Sunday night is unheard of,” he said. “But this decision really helped our people understand Baptist polity more. Their vote did make a difference. What they said mattered.”
He said, he hopes the money can be used to help others in the community.
Aphorism CITY 