I had the privilege of serving for six years - from 1997 to 2003 - as the Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia. My former church has been in the news this week because of the arrest of the Senior Pastor for assaulting his wife. This story and his mug shot have been on TV news and in the AJC for the last three days. The story was even picked up by the Associated Press.
My final Sunday at FBC Alpharetta was the week before the current pastor's first Sunday. I had quite a bit of contact with him before and after his trial sermon and during the transition period, including flying out to Houston to meet him and his wife. I won't comment on the specifics of the allegations against the pastor... I am admittedly far from objective.
I have many great memories of my time in Alpharetta and there are folks still there who are dear to us. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this very difficult time.
The last year I was at Alpharetta I had the great joy of serving alongside Nelson Price, who was our Interim Pastor. As Dr. Price eloquently put it in an e-mail to me yesterday, "What a grief! That dear membership didn't need this."
My heart goes out to the Witcher family and especially to the church, both of whom face a long, difficult road ahead. For now, the pastor is on paid leave while the case makes its way through the court system. Please join me in praying for all of those touched by this situation.
Regardless of what happens, things will never be the same in the pastor's family or in the relationship between pastor and people. It is hard at this point to imagine how he can continue as Senior Pastor under these circumstances.
This is perhaps the most serious situation that Alpharetta First Baptist has faced in it's 102 year history.
Read the AJC story here.
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