Obama's pastor has ties to Tampa

TAMPA -- The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., the controversial pastor and spiritual mentor of presidential candidate Barack Obama, has longstanding ties to the Tampa Bay area.

For years, Wright has come to town annually, packing sanctuaries at Bible-Based Fellowship Church, in Tampa's Carrollwood area, and at Bible-Based Fellowship Church of Temple Terrace. The pastors of both congregations have known Wright for 25 years and routinely schedule him to speak. Word of mouth has now extended Wright's reach beyond those two congregations to believers who have heard his sermons on tape or sat in on one of his revivals.

Indeed, Wright is scheduled to speak next week, March 25-27, at the Temple Terrace church in celebration of its 10th anniversary.

Local supporters say the angry preacher being portrayed in the media is not the Wright they know. To them, Wright is a man who is kind and intelligent, yet bold enough to speak the truth.

"The man is not a hater," said the Rev. Arthur T. Jones, pastor of the Carrollwood church. "But truth hurts," Jones said. "And what he's done is open some eyes."

Angela Judge, a churchgoer who routinely goes to hear Wright when he comes to town, said she has cried and prayed over the matter. She recently sent Wright an e-mail with encouraging words.

"I know Dr. Wright," she said. "I know what a compassionate person he is."

Sharon Tubbs, Times Staff Writer

[AP Photo]