Historic Selma Church Receives State Funding for Preservation and Community Service First Baptist Church of Selma, a historic African-American congregation and Civil Rights Movement landmark, is receiving $40,000 in state funding to repair and renovate its aging building while continuing to serve the community. The church, which has hosted various community events and served as a disaster relief site, faces changing attendance patterns but remains a vital part of the city's history and present. A century-old Selma church, First Baptist Church, is set to receive $40,000 in state funding to preserve its historic building and continue serving the community. Established in 1894, the church is not only the city's first African-American congregation but also played a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement. State Senator Robert Stewart, representing Alabama Senate District 23, secured the funding through the state's General Fund budget.'First Baptist Church is not just a part of our history, but it's a part of our present and future,' Stewart said. The church, facing repairs and renovations due to its age, will use the funds to fix deteriorating windows and replace its electrical system.'This money is much needed, and we're glad to have it,' said Warren Billy Young, chairman of the church's Board of Deacons. While preservation is a goal, both church and state leaders emphasize the church's continued community involvement. It hosts events like warrant clinics, maternal health activities, and served as a disaster relief site after the 2023 Selma tornado.However, church leaders acknowledge changing attendance patterns and the role of churches in rural communities. Stewart attributes this to population decline and the rise of online church services. Young suggests upgrades to technology and youth programming could attract more young people. Despite these changes, the church remains a 'beacon of light' in the community, Young said.The $40,000 is not a historic preservation grant but recognition of the church's historic contributions and continued community work, Stewart said