Christians rally to oppose gambling

A group of about 300 Christians rallied on the steps of the Dothan Civic Center Monday, and its leaders say the rally is the first step in an effort to “unmask” the effects of gambling.

“Until now, you have only heard one side of the story,” said Rev. Tom Anderson, former pastor at Mt. Gilead Baptist Church.

Other leaders and pastors from churches within the Columbia Baptist Association stated their opposition to electronic gaming at Country Crossing, and said they planned to post gambling-related information on the association web site, hold political forums and be more vocal on the issue.

“Gambling is a predatory business,” Anderson said. “And Houston County and Alabama will be a loser if we invite gambling in.”

At least one former pastor at the rally estimated the crowd at around 500.

Columbia Baptist Association Director of Missions Jerry Grandstaff and Bethel Baptist Church pastor Rev. Ricky Plummer say they oppose gambling mainly for Biblical reasons, but said there are ethical, social and legal issues associated with gambling that cause concern as well.

Ricky Plummer, pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Dothan, said any economic impact created by jobs at Country Crossing would be swallowed up by hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in lost revenue to local retailers that instead were spent at the electronic bingo pavilion there.

“As we promote our love for God, it requires us to stand for righteousness,” Plummer said. “Gambling promotes negative productivity. This is not about jobs. It’s about the greed of those who are wanting to sift money from the people of Houston County.”

Plummer has been a vocal opponent of gaming at Country Crossing since the Houston County Commission voted to change bingo regulations and enter into a development agreement with Country Crossing in February of 2008.

Plummer said he does not believe the newly-defined Houston County bingo regulations represent the intent of the initial amendment in 1995 that legalized charitable bingo. He also said any revenue generated by the development would be outweighed by the additional strain put on social agencies from gamblings negative side effects.

Jeff Peacock, pastor at Hodgesville Baptist Church, said he was addicted to gambling before becoming a Christian and once lost three months rent.
“What I’m here today to do is stand for those people who can’t walk away,” Peacock said.

Grandstaff said he opposes a statewide referendum on electronic gaming because he believes officials were elected to make those decisions.

Grandstaff said the Columbia Baptist Association is looking at developing an educational campaign to discuss the Biblical and social issues associated with gambling. Grandstaff said the campaign is still in its formative stages, but will include posting information on the CBA web site as well as hosting speakers.

“We do not want people to think that if they oppose our viewpoint that they are immoral or not Christian,” Grandstaff said. “We simply believe that when a believer searches the word of God, the weight of the Scriptures does not permit (gambling).”