By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
On his last full day in office, January 19, former President Joe Biden attended a church service at Royal Missionary Baptist Church in North Charleston, South Carolina. It was a coming home of sorts for President Biden and also the church’s celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s legacy.
What makes this event significant locally is that the pastor of RMBC is the Rev. Isaac Holt from Atmore.
This was not the first time President Biden spoke at this church. Before the South Carolina
Democratic Primary in 2020, he spoke at the church on the campaign trail, accompanied by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn. He was joined by Rep. Clyburn on this visit as well.
On January 29, President Biden spoke about his involvement in the Civil Rights movement, his affinity for Black churches through the years, the importance of faith, among other subjects.
“ … thank you, for the congregation of Royal Missionary Baptist Church, for welcoming
me back to Charleston to worship with you,” Biden said. “I prayed with you here in February of 2020 when I was running for president. On my final full day as president, of all the places I wanted to be was back here with you.
“I first got involved – first got involved in public life because of the Civil Rights Movement. I –I’d attend 7:30 mass at my church, then I’d go to another morning service at the AME Church in Delaware – the Black church, the spiritual home of the Black experience that helped redeem the soul of the nation, literally.
“That’s the truth we honor on the weekend we celebrate one of the political heroes – my political heroes, many of yours – Dr. Martin Luther King.”
Rev. Holt has pastored Royal Missionary Baptist Church since 1993. was inducted into the Atmore Area Hall of Fame in 2019.