02/04/2006

Prayer Vigil at Alabama Church Destroyed by Arson Event
News Conference Held by National Christian Leaders and Christian Coalition of Alabama

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, Feb. 4 /Christian Wire Service/ -- Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, the Rev. Rob Schenck, President of the National Clergy Council and John Giles President of Christian Coalition of Alabama will hold a prayer vigil and news conference on Sunday, February 5th, at 9:30 A.M. at Rehobeth Baptist Church.

News Conference & Prayer Vigil Details---

When: Sunday, February 5, at 9:30 A.M.

Where: Rehobeth Baptist Church, at the corner of Rehobeth and Deer Creek Roads, in Randolph, Alabama

Why: The leaders will first be asking the faith community across the nation to help with the rebuilding of these fire damaged churches. They will also be calling upon the Department of Justice and the Bush Administration to open an federal investigation into the cause of these fires.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney comments, " When a church is targeted, for whatever reason, it is more than just an attack on a building. It is an attack on the core values of faith those places of worship represent. In other words, when a place of worship is attacked, religion itself is attacked. It is our hope that the Department of Justice and the Bush Administration will do all within their power to ensure the person or persons responsible for these hateful acts are caught and brought to justice."

Rev. Rob Schenck states, "All within the faith community stand shoulder to shoulder against these horrific crimes. Our thoughts and prayers are with the members of all the congregations that faced these tragic acts of violence. As we did with the churches that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina, the National Clergy Council and the Christian Defense Coalition are giving a national call to the Christian community across the nation to help rebuild these Alabama church buildings that were destroyed by these fires."

Rev. Mahoney and Rev. Schenck will arrive in Birmingham, Alabama on Saturday afternoon, February 4th.

For more information call: 202.547.1735 Cell: 540.538.4741 703.447.7686