Atheist group saves woman from Christmas nightmare

[rug]

December 27, 2013
By James Bright
The Norman Transcript

CHICKASHA — A group of local atheists saved Christmas for a Chickasha woman after she and her baby were allegedly put through the ringer at a church’s toy give away.

Tiffany Wait said she, her husband and their 7-month-old baby went to Bible Baptist Church’s Toy Shop Christmas morning to get gifts for their child but were met with animosity because Wait did not want to give her baby to the volunteers.

“I am poor and would not be able to celebrate Christmas this year without their charity,” she said. “I went last year and it was a life saver. This year, however, I was treated shockingly bad.”

Wait said her baby doesn’t like strangers and she’d prefer to be with him. She said the volunteer said it has to be done this way, or the family wouldn’t be able to participate.

http://www.normantranscript.com/headlines/x1221280485/Atheist-group-saves-woman-from-Christmas-nightmare

http://www.oklahomaatheists.com/

http://www.bbcchickasha.net/

[cbayer]

1. What an odd story.

Why would they insist on holding the child?

Glad that others stepped in to try and right this wrong.

[goldent]

2. It is an odd story, and without much detail about what the issue was

The church did try to rectify it:

A member of Bible Baptist Church, Shayla Clemmons, went by Wait’s house after the incident.

“She brought us a bunch of Christmas stuff,” Wait said. “She said they shouldn’t have done that and that there are no ‘rules.’”

Bible Baptist Head Pastor Kim Hayes said he attempted to go to Wait’s house five times Christmas night but was never able to contact her. He said he intends to continue his efforts to contact her.

[cbayer]

3. Yes, I saw that. I wonder if it was just an individual who had

an issue.

Or whether it was a policy of some sort that would have gone unnoticed if this woman had not made some posts about it.

[goldent]

4. The only plausible thing I can think of is this

there was a group of women who would help parents with their children, while the parents looked around (especially for older kids so they would not see the toys). Sometimes people (dare I say mothers) can be well meaning but too insistent offering their help, and it rubs people the wrong way.

[cbayer]

5. Good point.

The church's website doesn't look very over the top and they have a lot of emphasis on children.

Unfortunate all the way around, but glad that others stepped in to try and make it better for this family.

I can only find one other story on this and it doesn't provide any more insight than this one.

[LiberalAndProud]

6. As I recall, there was always one in every church my father served.

There was always at least one member very active in the church, always present at all the events, and most often in a position of some authority. All these qualities are good things until one becomes acquainted with the pushy, mean spirited way in which they interact with others with a my-way-or-the-highway attitude. Coping with those ever-present pillars was always an exercise in diplomacy.

I wouldn't be surprised if one volunteer was largely responsible for making this young mother's experience so unpleasant.