Small bombs exploded within minutes of each other Aug. 2 at two Las Cruces, N.M., churches -- including a Southern Baptist congregation -- cancelling Sunday morning services and necessitating evacuations at other churches across the city.
No one was hurt in the explosions that caused minimal damage at Calvary Baptist Church, 1800 S. Locust St., and Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1327 N. Miranda St., the Associated Press reported. No arrests had been made as of today, Aug. 3, but New Mexico state police described the bombs as improvised explosive devices, IEDs, designed to cause harm.
About 50 worshippers had already gathered for the 8:30 a.m. traditional service at Calvary Baptist Church when the bomb exploded at 8:20 a.m. in a mailbox attached to the building, Scott Rodgers, pastor of core groups, told Baptist Press.
Worshippers remained calm as police arrived and evacuated Calvary Baptist, ushering individuals to the church's south parking lot, Rodgers said. He preached the Sunday morning service in the parking lot, as youth arts pastor Gregg Higgins led music. But the 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. services were cancelled, as police blocked adjacent streets while investigating the crime.
Church members are doing well, Rodgers told Baptist Press, and a licensed professional counselor within the congregation has made himself available if needed.
"Each church member that I've spoken to [has] given praise to God for how He protected us," Rodgers said, "and recognizing what little we do know about the device, we're very grateful that God has protected us and not a single person was hurt, not in the slightest..."
No one was hurt in the explosions that caused minimal damage at Calvary Baptist Church, 1800 S. Locust St., and Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1327 N. Miranda St., the Associated Press reported. No arrests had been made as of today, Aug. 3, but New Mexico state police described the bombs as improvised explosive devices, IEDs, designed to cause harm.
About 50 worshippers had already gathered for the 8:30 a.m. traditional service at Calvary Baptist Church when the bomb exploded at 8:20 a.m. in a mailbox attached to the building, Scott Rodgers, pastor of core groups, told Baptist Press.
Worshippers remained calm as police arrived and evacuated Calvary Baptist, ushering individuals to the church's south parking lot, Rodgers said. He preached the Sunday morning service in the parking lot, as youth arts pastor Gregg Higgins led music. But the 9:45 a.m. and 11 a.m. services were cancelled, as police blocked adjacent streets while investigating the crime.
Church members are doing well, Rodgers told Baptist Press, and a licensed professional counselor within the congregation has made himself available if needed.
"Each church member that I've spoken to [has] given praise to God for how He protected us," Rodgers said, "and recognizing what little we do know about the device, we're very grateful that God has protected us and not a single person was hurt, not in the slightest..."
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