The pews of Bethel AME church in Gainesville were filled Sunday morning, and many of those in attendance were visitors who came to the church to offer support in light of a planned attack on the small congregation on Mill Street.
News of the plan, apparently at the hands of a 16-year-old Gainesville High School student, came to light publicly a week ago, even though church leaders were told of the plot on Friday, Nov. 15. Gainesville Police Chief Jay Parrish announced the arrest of the girl on Tuesday, Nov. 19, so this Sunday's worship service was the first since the news became public.
Rev. Dr. Michelle Rizer-Pool, the pastor of Bethel AME, asked visitors to stand and introduce themselves - and they had come from all over the area: Gainesville First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville, neighboring St. John Baptist Church, Congregation Beth Israel in Cumming, to name a few.
Members of Indivisible Lumpkin drove from Dahlonega and formed a line outside the church prior to the service holding signs of support for the Bethel congregation. Alana Watkins with the Hall County Democrats spoke for the group during the service.
"They wanted to make sure that the parishioners of Bethel knew that there are people in the community that will always be here for them and always stand with them no matter how far they have to drive," Watkins said.
AME leaders came from across the state to offer their support, including Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, the Presiding Prelate of the Sixth Episcopal District. Jackson commended members of the church for reacting to news of the planned attack with grace.
"The world at its worst requires the church to be at its best," Jackson said, noting at the same time that Sunday could have been a day of mourning, rather than celebration. "It is only by the providential grace of God and his enduring mercy that we gather at Bethel this morning not to grieve but to give thanks."
As he had in press conferences earlier in the week, Jackson called for forgiveness of the suspect in the case; he also renewed his call for her punishment.
"Our gathering today sends a message that we will not be intimidated, that we will not be frightened, but that we will remain committed and faithful to God and be about the work of His Kingdom," Jackson said. "As Christians, we pray for the young, 16-year-old girl who plotted to hurt and kill us. We pray that God will change her distorted and troubled mind, exchange love for her hate-filled heart and cause her life to be transformed...I remind you that forgiveness does not mean that there is no consequence. This plot must have a consequence, and that consequence must be more than a slap on the hand."
Also, Jackson renewed his call for hate crimes legislation, telling the congregation he had been in conversation with Gov. Brian Kemp about the upcoming legislative session. He said a rally has already been set at the State Capitol in Atlanta for Jan. 27, 2020 to push state lawmakers to pass hate crimes legislation.
Rizer-Pool acknowledged to her congregation that her mind had been on a "roller coaster" ever since Gainesville police gave her the news of the reported plan. Basing her sermon on Joshua 1:1-9, she encouraged her congregation to "be strong and courageous."
She also told congregants they had had been part of a miracle.
"On the corner of Mill Street and McDonald, on the corner of faith and hope, on the corner of grace and mercy, we have seen a miracle," Rizer-Pool said to shouts of affirmation from the congregation. "God has allowed us to see a miracle in Gainesville, Georgia."
Rizer-Pool said before news of the plan came to light, she already had a plan on her calendar for an active-shooter training for the church. Those plans will now happen more quickly than anticipated. The training is scheduled for Nov. 30 at the church.
