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The New Light House of Prayer was one of two Greenville churches damaged in arson fires and then rebuilt 25 years ago. File photo
The City of Greenville was the center of nationwide media attention 25 years ago, following two arson fires at local churches.
A fire was reported at the New Light House of Prayer late on the night of June 9, 1996, followed by a fire early the next morning at the Church of the Living God.
The blazes occurred on the same weekend as some 30 pastors met with then-Attorney General Janet Reno about a string of suspicious fires at predominantly black churches across the south, which prompted the creation of the federal Church Arson Task Force.