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“Hurt. Devastated. Crushed.” Those aren’t the typical emotions most newlyweds would use to describe their wedding day. But that’s exactly how Charles and Te’Andrea Wilson feel when they look back on their big day.
Sadly, it was a group of “Christians” who were responsible for their pain.
By the summer of 2012, the dress had been purchased, the invitations had been sent out, and the venue had been secured. Everyone was supposed to meet at First Baptist Church in Crystal Springs, MS for the festive occasion. But just one day before the wedding was to take place, a handful of members approached the pastor with concerns over setting a new “precedent” at their church.
The precedent being the marriage of two African-Americans.
Fearing the heat of controversy, their pastor, Dr. Stan Weatherford, approached the black couple and asked them to change the location of their wedding. The shocked and heartbroken couple agreed, and Weatherford conducted the services for them at another church in town.
Back at First Baptist the following morning, several church members attending worship services expressed confusion and remorse after finding out about the incident. “I would say I’m sorry this happened and would you forgive the people who caused it because we’re gonna try to,” said parishioner Bob Mack. “We hope we can straighten them out, you know, get them to understand what Christianity is all about because they have some misconceptions about it.”
“Misconceptions” is putting it rather mildly.
Regardless, kind words after the fact offer little comfort to the Wilsons. “I had dreams of having my wedding the way I wanted it, and I also dreamed of having it at the church and unfortunately, it didn’t happen,” claimed Te’Andrea. Her husband chimed in and rightfully said that the time to “step up and be Christlike,” was before their wedding, not after.
Unfettered bigotry and cowardly leadership. Those two always lead to heartbreak.
Click here for the online report.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Baptist
Christians
Church
Coward
Disappointment
Racism
Taking A Stand
Taking Action
The South
Unloving
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
