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A Beaumont church had their annual Christmas morning service interrupted when the pastor was notified from the pulpit of a bomb threat on Dec. 25.
In a statement to the congregation by Pastor John Adolph of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, he said that, during the Christmas worship service, church security was notified by the Beaumont Police Department (BPD) of a bomb threat directed toward the church located at 3920 W. Cardinal Dr.
The pastor reported that the service began at 9 a.m. and was notified more than 40 minutes into the service of the threat. BPD reported dispatch received the call about 9:30 a.m.
Adolph advised the on-site congregation of the situation. He stated that, out of caution, a shelter in place order was activated while church security, BPD officers and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputies began a site assessment of the interior and exterior of the church edifice.
The pastor also stated that local Explosive Ordinances Detection and K9 specialists responded, along with Deputy Fire Marshal Capt. Antonio Mitchell of the Port Arthur Fire Marshal’s Office and Sgt. Kendrick Hatfield of Beaumont ISD Police Department. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also responded to the scene.
“Upon arrival, both Explosive Ordinance Detection and K9 teams cleared the exterior and interior of the church premises to ensure a safe and orderly evacuation of our members,” wrote Adolph. “The evacuation was conducted without incident and there was no threat found on our church’s property.”
Adolph noted the next services are at 8 a.m.,10 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 31.
“Every precautionary method of ensuring the safety of our members and guest will be taken,” added Adolph.