FORT WORTH — Nearly 28 years ago, Al Meredith arrived in Texas to lead Wedgwood Baptist Church.
The church had been without a pastor for more than a year, and the congregation was divided. Outside, the mercury climbed to a stifling 103 degrees.
"I cannot say I really desired to live in Texas, but I was called by God to be here," said Meredith, a native of Michigan. "It turned out to be the perfect fit."
Sunday morning, Meredith, known by members as "Brother Al," delivered his last sermon as pastor of Wedgwood.
He rose to national prominence in 1999, as he led the congregation in the days and weeks after a gunman opened fire during a Wednesday evening prayer service, killing seven people and injuring another seven.
Some members wanted to dismiss the following Sunday service. Absolutely not, Meredith replied.
"We are not giving an inch," he told them.
One 8-year-old girl was so terrified that she begged her parents to not attend, Meredith recalled. She eventually relented, but only if she was allowed to wear her tennis shoes to the service so she could run if needed.
