WILMINGTON — The Bible Baptist Church of Wilmington is sponsoring the Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks show at this year’s Fourth of July celebration at the park.

With the Friends of the Parks group dissolving, it wasn’t clear how the annual fireworks display would be paid for. The Bible Baptist Church (BBC) is observing its 20th anniversary this year, and rather than holding fireworks at the church site in May, it decided to sponsor the Independence Day fireworks at the J.W. Denver Williams Jr. Memorial Park.

Bible Baptist Church Pastor Kelly McInerney said Wednesday the sponsorship is a gift for the community from the church.

“I think it’s important for our community to have something [in terms of July 4 fireworks] as the county seat,” said McInerney.

Wilmington Mayor Randy Riley said he is “absolutely delighted” with the action by the church. “I thought it was absolutely wonderful that they were interested in sponsoring the entire celebration.”

Riley said he joked with McInerney that “maybe we won’t pass the offering plate” at the event.

Prior to the 10 p.m. July 4 fireworks, the Wilmington Community Band will present patriotic and other music on the mobile stage starting at 7 p.m.

At 8 p.m., a quartet from the BBC will sing from the stage for about half an hour. Called Real Faith, the quartet is comprised of Bryan Coleman and his daughter Kinsey Coleman, along with Nikki Peters and her daughter Maddie Peters.

Then at 8:30 p.m., a national Southern Gospel group, The Old Paths, will present a concert for about an hour and 15 minutes.

McInerney said the fireworks will be choreographed to go with a musical background that people at the park near the sound stage can hear.

If necessary, the rain date will be Sunday, July 5.

The church is calling it Life & Liberty Weekend. The Old Paths quartet and a guest speaker will be at the 10:30 a.m. Sunday, July 5 worship service at the church off U.S. 22/S.R. 3 just west of Wilmington.

Open to the general public, the speaker will be attorney David C. Gibbs III, president of the National Center for Life and Liberty.

Gibbs was the lead attorney in the Terri Schiavo legal case in an end-of-life dispute that went to the U.S. Supreme Court. Schiavo died 10 years ago after her feeding tube was removed by order of a Florida judge acting at the request of Schiavo’s husband. Gibbs represented her parents who did not want life support removed.

Gibbs has co-authored “Understanding the Constitution” and “Making Sense of Religion in America’s Public Schools,” which pertains to legal questions about exercising faith in public schools.

Gibbs also will speak at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 5 at Bible Baptist Church.

McInerney said he thinks Gibbs will be an interesting speaker, and said both Sunday, July 5 events at the church featuring Gibbs are open to “anyone interested in current events and laws.”

Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.