Paradise AME Church - Jefferson Metal Mommy: Unfortunately my only experience with this church is not a very good one and quite frankly very disheartening. My husband and I had to pull into the church parking lot because he dropped his phone and did not want to be looking for it while driving. We were trying to test something on his truck so he had me on speaker and in two separate vehicles. We were in the parking lot for no more than MAYBE 1 minute, when he pulled off I proceeded to back out only to be blocked in by two women in a red car. I rolled down my window and was immediately questioned of why I was there, she said that I was not allowed to be there and I was trespassing. i tried to explain we were not just hanging out and that we were there for only a minute, she continued to not move her vehicle and scold me more then say "this is OUR church, you cant be here" I told her I understood and I was trying to leave but obviously her car was blocking me in. She said "I dont think you do understand that I will call the police if you do not get out of here!" She was very hostile and i my face was red because I was embarrassed I was being treated this way. She then followed me and my husband to our neighborhood and drove off. Now, I have grown up in church since I was in my mothers womb my father is a Baptist minister and my husband and I are members of the Jefferson Church. To be treated this way with such discrimination and hostility I feel compelled to share our experience Church is for all of Gods people black. white, brown, purple, blue etc. I have pulled into church parking lots to pray because it is a place of sanctuary, even though this is not what we were doing I have never felt so unwelcomed in the safe haven of a church. I hope in the future that maybe the people of this church can learn to have an open heart as Jesus did and not immediately come with fists thrusted banning anyone who is there because they say "this is OUR church." Such a shame this happened. I will continue to drive by and pray for them. but never will I suggest someone visit there.
