Reverend Russell L. Brown, of Fort Myers Florida, will serve 10 years. The sentence followed the pedophile pastor’s long awaited conviction last Monday, for felony molestation of a child, under 12 years old. Brown was allowed to enter No Contest pleas to the 2 other first degree felony molestation charges pending against him.
All of the boys involved were in my Sunday School class, as were all of the others. The State Attorney declined to file several cases, for various reasons. These we’re the children of my heart; I’d watched most of these boys grow from diapers to pre-teens. For 20 plus years, this jovial, loving, supportive man was the Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. For 10 years, I trusted, supported and followed my Pastor. I was a single mom at the time; my son trusted him too. Yeah, he did.
I fled the church; I fled the state. My child’s case was mercifully among those the State Attorney declined to file. We were blessed to watch this unfold from a distance. I can’t imagine the torment this 6 year ordeal has been for my friends and their sons. I am so grateful to them for having the will to stand and to God for giving them the strength to do it.
Forty years ago when my dad was beating my mom and molesting me, black, blue and bloody, she called the police once. Once. They, in effect, told her she (we) were chattel; he could do what he wanted and it wasn’t their problem. Ten years later, after being raped at gunpoint, the police showed me 17 complaints against my attacker and not even one arrest. Five years after that, my then common law husband chased me out of the house naked and bleeding. A neighbor called the police, but my husband wasn’t arrested or even escorted from the premises. In fact, they threatened to arrest me if I didn’t stop loudly insisting they take him away. You fill in the aftermath. I stopped calling the police.
When I left Florida 6 years ago, I never thought Reverend Brown would ever be exposed. I told the church secretary and Associate Minister; he told the Head Deacon and they closed ranks to protect him. Two years ago, when he was finally arrested, I breathed a sigh of relief; still my experience with the just-us system, left me with little hope. I don’t think 10 years equates to justice, he deserved life, but it’s the closest I’ve ever seen.
I thought this day, if it ever came, would make me shout and get my happy dance on, but I can’t stop shaking and crying. I had no idea how much I was holding inside. I needed to get this out ya’ll, and you’ve so generously given me a safe place to get verbally naked. So, who else would I tell?
Would ya’ll do me a favor? See, I know I don’t have to ask you to pray for these boys and their families; that’s just who ya’ll are. And I know ya’ll will pray for the broken church he left in his wake, but please, would you pray for this man and his family, especially his family. His wife and sons are hurting too. Thank you; I appreciate each and everyone of you.
Posted By: Michelle Diane
Thursday, September 18th 2008 at 11:29AM
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