ST. AUGUSTINE Fla.-- Almarene C. Lowndes is singing the praises of her beloved church, St. Mary's Missionary Baptist. It's pulpit and its people were both touched by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the height of the Civil Rights movement.
Lowndes says meeting King at St. Mary's Missionary Baptist and hearing his words from its pews inspired her and shaped her life.
"He would come to us and tell us to do all you can, study all you can and make your dreams become a reality," said Lowndes.
But now the church that helped spread King's message needs help of its own; it's facing foreclosure. They need more than $200,000 to prevent closing their doors by Feb 2nd.
Minister of music, Raymond Dunlap hopes the MLK Jr. Holiday Monday inspires the community to pitch in and donate.
"Help us save a piece of history," he said.
Lowndes wants the church preserved so generations of young African Americans after her can continue to be inspired by Dr. King's message the way she was.
"We can touch the lives of these children and help them to grow up and become citizens and doctors and whatever they want to be because they can be anything they want to be," she said.
If you'd like to make a donation you can mail it to St. Mary's Missionary Baptist Church at 69 Washington Street St. Augustine FL 32084
