CANADA
London Free Press
PATRICK MALONEY, Free Press Reporter 2005-09-11 03:05:48
Life will return to normal for at least a few hours today inside London's embattled Ambassador Baptist Church.
Though sex-abuse charges have been laid against four of its leaders, the congregation will gather together today -- as they would any Sunday morning -- for their weekly service, says the deacon who has essentially led the church since his colleagues were charged three days ago.
"I will speak to the people, give them the Lord's words and give them comfort," deacon Laurie Bunch said. "You just have to move forward. God's church will always move forward, it doesn't matter (about) the persecution."
On Thursday, London police announced several charges against three of the independent Baptist Church's leaders. Pastors Roy Wood, 55, and Brian Fast, 51, were charged, along with deacon William Dalton Fletcher, 44, and Russell Wilson, a 48-year-old member of the congregation.
The men appeared in court Friday and are in custody pending a bail hearing tomorrow.