{"id":1930,"date":"2015-08-14T10:28:42","date_gmt":"2015-08-14T15:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.disciplescef.org\/?p=1930"},"modified":"2019-10-23T15:51:40","modified_gmt":"2019-10-23T19:51:40","slug":"churchs-revitalization-builds-local-economy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplescef.org\/blog\/churchs-revitalization-builds-local-economy\/","title":{"rendered":"Church\u2019s revitalization builds local economy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Greenleaf Christian Church<\/a>, founded by former slaves in 1886, is a historic pillar in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The church is located in the city\u2019s north end, known for its economic struggles, where it has developed a reputation for service to the surrounding community.<\/p>\n

When William J. Barber, II, became pastor of Greenleaf in 1992, he saw an area infested with dilapidated buildings, high unemployment and abandoned property, but envisioned potential beyond the obvious vacant lots and objectionable living conditions. In 1995, Barber asked his congregation to join him on a faith journey. He says,<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring this time we went on a retreat, prayed, studied various Biblical passages and asked God for guidance in helping us redevelop this area. We asked the compelling question, \u2018What would Jesus do?\u2019\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

According to Barber, the congregation took a compass and drew a two-mile radius around the church. He says,<\/p>\n

\u201cWe posed another question: if we could not influence the areas right around the church, then how could we go into the world and influence other areas. We concluded that we would engage in broad-based community development.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The congregation set their sight on a large abandoned retail property in the north end that was for sale. After settling on a price with the property owner, Greenleaf approached Disciples Church Extension Fund about a loan to buy the property. According to Rick Reisinger, president of Disciples Church Extension Fund, at that time the loan request was not typical.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt wasn\u2019t a request for building a new church, or expanding or remodeling an existing church,\u201d says Reisinger. \u201cThis loan was for church ministry, for a mission beyond the church\u2019s four walls.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Disciples Church Extension Fund approved the loan<\/a> to purchase the property, but Greenleaf saw to it that the loan would help to accomplish much more. What started as a million-dollar loan to purchase and revitalize abandoned property ultimately became the financial resources for community development with an economic impact of more than $12 million. Greenleaf turned the property into Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corporation, a faith-based, non-profit organization that offers the local community a variety of ministry services, including a development of affordable homes for first-time buyers; senior-living apartments; Christian Academy and Childcare Center; a community computer lab; Apex School of Theology; credit-counseling services; Stop the Funeral Initiative; and a 500-seat banquet room that houses the historic Imani Wall of Firsts to honor accomplished community leaders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to Disciples Church Extension Fund, who invested in a way that helped us leverage other resources and build partnerships,\u201d says Barber.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For example, Goldsboro recognized the church\u2019s efforts to revitalize the area by awarding them a $250,000 grant to renovate the daycare side of the building. Greenleaf was also able to partner with another Disciples ministry, National Benevolent Association, to develop an affordable senior living complex in the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough this effort we are changing lives,\u201d says Barber, \u201cand we see the hands of God and the love of Christ at work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greenleaf Christian Church, founded by former slaves in 1886, is a historic pillar in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The church is located in the city\u2019s north end, known for its economic struggles, where it has developed a reputation for service to the surrounding community. When William J. Barber, II, became pastor of Greenleaf in 1992, he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[4],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nChurch\u2019s revitalization builds local economy - DCEF<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What started as a million-dollar loan to revitalize property ultimately became the resources for community development with an impact of more than $12 M.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/disciplescef.org\/blog\/churchs-revitalization-builds-local-economy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Church\u2019s revitalization builds local economy - 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