Jackson County, AL - It all started when the board of education received a complaint from a family in the school system and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.
They say the so-called "Bible Man"....who leads a program to help students earn Bibles should not be allowed because it's unconstitutional.
But Monday night, the voice of the church was heard loud and clear.
It was a packed house.
More than one hundred people showed up to make their voices heard.
Pastor Brad Bridges says, "We're here today to make a show, say 'hey Christianity is in and we love it. And our nation was founded on it.'"
The board went into executive session to discuss the possible litigation. It had to decide after 30 years if it's going to allow the Bible man to continue his program in the schools.
"We wanted our county to have an option for our children He's been part of our county so long and our children appreciate and love it and we just feel that our children value it," said concerned citizen Beverly Gilmer.
While the complaint before the board cited violations of the constitution, State Senator Shadrack McGill says he doesn't believe in separation of church and state.
"I don't believe you keep God out of state. Church represents the body of Christ, Christ being the head of that body. No, I don't believe in that separation," said Sen. McGill.
While the board met, the people sang, prayed, and shared life testimonies.
After an hour in the executive session, the board returned with a statement allowing the Bible man and other activities to remain in the school system.
Superintendent Ken Harding says, "It shouldn't be in the country that we live in that the minority forces their rights and beliefs on everybody else. We want to respect everybody's right. We want ours respected too."
The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed other complaints against the system including prayers before school athletic events and religious Christmas programs.
No one supporting those complaints attended the meeting.
