A set of deliberate arsonist attacks destroyed the Greater Union Baptist, St. Mary’s Baptist Church of Port Barre and Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church of Opelousas from late March to early April 2019. The perpetrator was Holden Matthews, the son of a sheriff’s deputy, who had voiced racist and satanic views online and in person. The 27-year-old man was charged with hate crimes and sentenced to 25 years in prison. 

Prominent public figures encouraged people to donate and help rebuild the churches. They raised around $2.6 million by the end of June 2019. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette also donated approximately $50,000. Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel of the Lafayette Diocese stated: “Evil brings opportunities for good and this is a good way to do that.”

Mike Pence – the Vice President at the time – praised the congregation for their support: “And to think of churches burning one day after another, and how people might have responded, and to see the way people, here in these churches and this community and across Louisiana responded is an inspiration to the nation. I’m deeply inspired, as people are all across this country, by the courage and the resilience of these communities of faith, these families of faith, but also by the generous support of the people of Louisiana and people all across the country.”

Pastor Lavergne expressed his gratitude and hope for a fresh start: “It’s a new beginning, not with our faith, but we have a bigger facility, and we have a lot more options in this new facility than we had in the old facility. As is stated, what the devil meant for evil, God turned it into good.”

Source: https://www.christianpost.com