‘Recovering Racist’ film documents story of pastor who founded church for homeless

The founder of a Birmingham church that cares for the homeless didn’t seek out attention.

But his admirers have created a documentary about his life that documents his commitment to helping the poorest of the poor in Alabama. The film, called “A Recovering Racist,” will have its premiere on Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m. at Beloved Community Church, 131 41st St. South.

It’s the story of the Rev. Lawton Higgs Sr., a retired United Methodist minister who founded the Church of the Reconciler in 1993 in downtown Birmingham. The church quickly became a focal point of outreach to the homeless. The title comes from Higgs’ own description of his ministry, overcoming the racism he says he had to recover from.

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