Repair the Hopewell Baptist Church
On Tuesday, November 1st, 2016, unknown criminals burned a predominantly black Baptist church in Greenville, Mississippi and scrawled graffiti on it: "Vote Trump". (Link to local news coverage.)
The animus of this election cycle combined with the potent racial history of burning black churches as a political symbol makes this event something we must not ignore.
Only two weeks ago, the internet came together to help repair a North Carolina GOP field office that had been burned by thugs. Justice demands we do the same now.
More details as they are available. Can we do this? Can we help show the world, the country, and most importantly, the churchgoers of Hopewell Baptist that we, as a society, are better than this?
Please give. Thanks.
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UPDATE, 11/2 11PM:
Holy crap, y'all - we're almost at $125,000 raised today. When I ginned up this page before my first meeting at work today, I had no earthly clue it would get so big. Thank you all so much.
Responses have been pouring in from all over the world, and they're truly extraordinary. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and many more, from all over the United States and many other countries. I've been tweeting out some of the (anonymized) responses, and responding to questions about the campaign. Feel free to get in touch there.
UPDATE, 11/2 8:50PM:
I just got off the phone again with Bishop Green. He's had a very long day - up at 4AM and going ever since. We exchanged contacts, and we've started the process to get Hopewell Church registered with GoFundMe so that they can transfer all funds to the church's bank account. I also learned from him that Hopewell Baptist is 111 years old!
He is overwhelmed at the response you've shown here. Thank you, very much. Love > Hate.
UPDATE, 11/2 6PM:
Spoke again by phone with Bishop Green from Hopewell. He has been on-site all day, but we exchanged email contacts so that we can begin the process of getting Hopewell registered with GoFundMe as a beneficiary. GoFundMe staff have also reached out to me directly, and will be assisting Hopewell with their registration.
Folks have asked about contributing directly to the church. That is best, of course, since it involves no overhead from GFM. Bishop Green has given his permission to use his personal address if you'd prefer to send a check:
Hopewell Baptist Church
936 Cedar Street
Greenville, MS 38701
Please make all checks out to "Hopewell Baptist Church."
As always, more info as I receive it.
UPDATE, 11/2 1:15PM:
I just got off the phone with Bishop Clarence Green from Hopewell M.B. Church, and let him know about this GFM campaign. He was very pleasantly surprised, and wanted to thank all the donors.
The Bishop is still on-site and has no access to a computer now, but as soon as he can, he will sign up Hopewell as an organization on GFM. This will allow GFM to wire all funds to their bank account directly. You can see the overhead that GFM charges here.
Thank you, so very, very much, to everyone who has donated. Your actions have shown that we are better than this.
UPDATE , 11/2 11AM:
We are working to get in touch with the Hopewell M.B. church leadership, and have already spoken to other church leaders in Greenville today. There is a press conference this morning at the Greenville Fire Department, where more information is being released. More details as they come.
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The animus of this election cycle combined with the potent racial history of burning black churches as a political symbol makes this event something we must not ignore.
Only two weeks ago, the internet came together to help repair a North Carolina GOP field office that had been burned by thugs. Justice demands we do the same now.
More details as they are available. Can we do this? Can we help show the world, the country, and most importantly, the churchgoers of Hopewell Baptist that we, as a society, are better than this?
Please give. Thanks.
---------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE, 11/2 11PM:
Holy crap, y'all - we're almost at $125,000 raised today. When I ginned up this page before my first meeting at work today, I had no earthly clue it would get so big. Thank you all so much.
Responses have been pouring in from all over the world, and they're truly extraordinary. Christians, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and many more, from all over the United States and many other countries. I've been tweeting out some of the (anonymized) responses, and responding to questions about the campaign. Feel free to get in touch there.
UPDATE, 11/2 8:50PM:
I just got off the phone again with Bishop Green. He's had a very long day - up at 4AM and going ever since. We exchanged contacts, and we've started the process to get Hopewell Church registered with GoFundMe so that they can transfer all funds to the church's bank account. I also learned from him that Hopewell Baptist is 111 years old!
He is overwhelmed at the response you've shown here. Thank you, very much. Love > Hate.
UPDATE, 11/2 6PM:
Spoke again by phone with Bishop Green from Hopewell. He has been on-site all day, but we exchanged email contacts so that we can begin the process of getting Hopewell registered with GoFundMe as a beneficiary. GoFundMe staff have also reached out to me directly, and will be assisting Hopewell with their registration.
Folks have asked about contributing directly to the church. That is best, of course, since it involves no overhead from GFM. Bishop Green has given his permission to use his personal address if you'd prefer to send a check:
Hopewell Baptist Church
936 Cedar Street
Greenville, MS 38701
Please make all checks out to "Hopewell Baptist Church."
As always, more info as I receive it.
UPDATE, 11/2 1:15PM:
I just got off the phone with Bishop Clarence Green from Hopewell M.B. Church, and let him know about this GFM campaign. He was very pleasantly surprised, and wanted to thank all the donors.
The Bishop is still on-site and has no access to a computer now, but as soon as he can, he will sign up Hopewell as an organization on GFM. This will allow GFM to wire all funds to their bank account directly. You can see the overhead that GFM charges here.
Thank you, so very, very much, to everyone who has donated. Your actions have shown that we are better than this.
UPDATE , 11/2 11AM:
We are working to get in touch with the Hopewell M.B. church leadership, and have already spoken to other church leaders in Greenville today. There is a press conference this morning at the Greenville Fire Department, where more information is being released. More details as they come.
Update 2
6 days ago
UPDATE, 11/3 8PM:
I talked again with Bishop Green tonight. Here's some important info:
- The Police are interviewing potential witnesses and so forth, but contrary to news reports, have no one in custody nor immediate suspects.
- The damage inside the church was apparently very bad. Go look at some of the pictures in the local news story I posted - pretty awful. They may have to tear down and build anew - it's still unclear.
- The church leadership has now set up with GoFundMe and their bank account info is undergoing the standard deposit verification for payment. They are working directly with GFM now on this. That means they should have access to all the funds in just a few business days.
Lots of people have been reaching out with offers to help. That is so, so cool of you, and much appreciated. I am forwarding on all offers of goods or skilled labor to the Hopewell Church leadership.
As before, I'll be tweeting out more news/updates as I have them: @BlairReeves
Thank you all so much once again.
I talked again with Bishop Green tonight. Here's some important info:
- The Police are interviewing potential witnesses and so forth, but contrary to news reports, have no one in custody nor immediate suspects.
- The damage inside the church was apparently very bad. Go look at some of the pictures in the local news story I posted - pretty awful. They may have to tear down and build anew - it's still unclear.
- The church leadership has now set up with GoFundMe and their bank account info is undergoing the standard deposit verification for payment. They are working directly with GFM now on this. That means they should have access to all the funds in just a few business days.
Lots of people have been reaching out with offers to help. That is so, so cool of you, and much appreciated. I am forwarding on all offers of goods or skilled labor to the Hopewell Church leadership.
As before, I'll be tweeting out more news/updates as I have them: @BlairReeves
Thank you all so much once again.
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No real Trump supporter would ever do this. Donation page is going out to all his real supporters. Time to come together and end this kind of hate. Trump love all and I am certain will be horrified about this hate crime. There is no way he or anyone connected to him would ever do this. I pray for the person who did. May God forgive you.
I am a Trump supporter, and if I was there I would be helping to clean up and re-build this church; AND I want to see the disgusting waste of air person(s) responsible brought to justice. KKK, Nazis, ALL of them need to evolve or leave the planet. NO SPACE FOR RACIAL HATE. They are TERRORISTS. No matter WHO is responsible. You are all in our prayers. THIS IS NOT OKAY. We stand in SOLIDARITY with the victims of this crime, and advocate MAXIMUM PENALTIES for the hateful offenders. I will donate as soon as I get paid. God bless you all.
Rather than speculate who did it, how about we agree it was an idiot and the church needs help, regardless? Either make a donation or move along...
I'm a Christian and a Trump Supporter. I hope the pastor will pray for our country and that the donations will help rebuild the church.
I am a Trump supporter who HATES what has been done by hoodlums and want to send a donation to the church. But the number given by Christen will not take my cell phone call! I need some responsible information ASAP! THANKS someone!
I do not believe for one minute this was Trump. I am white and this to me is just horrible. But what Satan meant for evil our precious Lord will bring good out of.
yo you don't need to make this fundraiser about trump guys. no one cares if you support him. donation is NOT "going out to all his real supporters." donation is going to a church that was horrifically vandalized for no reason
There are deranged people in this world that exist within both parties. Truthfully they will never represent any party or candidate --hopefully! TRUMP does not deserve to be blamed for their behavior--as he would definitely condemn it. I'm an Independent that has voted for TRUMP and would hope that this terrible crime will not deter you from voting TRUMP!
The way GoFundMe works, a contact from Hopewell church will have to contact GFM with an EIN, personal SS#, and bank info. Then and only then will GFM transfer the funds raised. Blair Reeves who set this up will never access the money. I am trying to get a PO Box or contact info for the church, in case people would prefer to mail a check the old-fashioned way (so the church gets 100%). Everyone in Greenville is very busy, understandably. I have called Mayor Simmons's office twice, and Fire Chief Brown's office as well. If I can get a mailing address for donations, I will post it here.
WHEN THEY GO LOW ! WE GO HIGH!!..
I came to this page from an article on Huffpost. The article states Huffpost has been in contact with GoFundMe personnel who have assured the news agency that they will only release the funds directly to tbs church so I doubt you have to worry about your money not going where it's supposed to.
Hi All--I have been in touch with Blair, who set up this GoFundMe page, multiple times today, and I feel confident that he is legit and wants this money to go directly to the church.
The burning of a church this is a hate crime and I'm sorry your Church got caught in the middle of all this! I'm a Trump supporter but this is unthinkable and hateful. I gave $10.00 good luck to rebuilding!
It's already being reported on by CNN...I'm sure they're salivating at the prospect of finding their imaginary Trump KKK supporter that did this...they'll probably have better luck finding a unicorn in outer space :) Folks, donate, it's LEGIT. Let's Show CNN our LOVE! http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/02/us/mississippi-black-church-vandalized-vote-trump/
That's a brilliant way to win support for your candidate- set fire to a church while the other guy is kissing babies. I shudder to think how many people would be stupid enough to believe it. Who benefits?
This should not be a forum for political rhetoric. It should be used as an avenue to help rebuild. Whoever is to blame, and they know who they are, is not important. The congregation needs your help, they are the victims. Whether you donate via Go-Fund Me or directly to:Hopewell Baptist Church 654 N Delesseps St, Greenville, MS 38701 Please donate. No-one deserves this......
This is not the time for spewing hate or placing blame. If you don't have anything positive to say please be quiet. As a child of God we all belong to the same family. One LORD, one faith, one baptism. We're praying for you Hopewell. Our God is obviously working something out in your favor. To God be the Glory!
Another Trump supporter, donation on the way. This is disgusting. Has nothing to do with Trump, or his real supporters. Hillary is going to jail, this church is going to be rebuilt bigger, stronger, and more beautiful, and trump will be our next president. MAGA
Conservatives have to stop blaming all their problems on African Americans. It is not acceptable to burn down their churches. It just isn't. We know many of these Republicans switched to the Republican Party after the Civil Rights Act of 1964. They never wanted African Americans to have their rights -- and that is vile. But this is unacceptable, and it needs to be checked.
Dear Frank Dean,...You are wrong...This is exactly what Trump wants and is promoting at his rallies...PERIOD