Churches of the Present
The Churches of Today
A large number of churches have found success in the Washington Park neighborhood in a variety of denominations that embrace the area's rich diversity. Many of these churches offer community outreach programs along with regular church services, bible studies for different ages, and family programs.
Community Baptist Church is one of the most heavily programmed churches in Washington Park, offering various programs and holding meetings covering neighborhood improvements -- one of the main ideas being home improvement. The church also works with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, which plays a valuable role in keeping the neighborhood youth on the right track. United Methodist Children Services is another church that offers a lot to the community for both children and whole families. UMCS features a child care center that supplies meals, education, and transportation for the children who attend. There is also a Transitional Living program that allows women in need to move in and work towards a healthy, independent lifestyle. Finally, they offer a Family Resource Center that distributes food and clothing. Having so many churches that all offer small programs throughout the neighborhood helps give Washington Park life. The small churches create close-knit "families" and sub-neighborhoods within the larger area context, leading to a sense of pride for the residents. |
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Christian Fellowship Community Church
The Christian Fellowship Community Church has been in the Washington Park neighborhood since 1964. When it was first established, the church had a mix of German and Jewish owners and is today owned by Pastor Mary Jean Lewis-Jiles. The footprint of the church extends beyond its walls and includes the parking lot and grassy lot to the south of the building. Bringing her expertise in community work, teaching, and her experience as a chaplain, Pastor Lewis-Jiles has expanded Christian Fellowship Community Church to more than just a place of worship.
In her time with the church, Pastor Lewis-Jiles has created a community center. At the church adults have the opportunity to earn their GEDs through a program set up by the Pastor. This program is facilitated by a classroom with worktables and computers inside the church. Women Services, Victims of Intense Crimes Embracing Others (VOICE, an organization founded by Pastor Lewis-Jiles herself), and Habitat for Humanity are just a few of the organizations that use the church to hold meetings. Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH) is another important non-profit organization that shares its voice within the walls of the Christian Fellowship Community Church. Fairs are also often held on the green spaces outside the church. Although the number of homes has decreased, and the number of boarded up homes and vacant lots has increased in Sherman Boulevard, the name Pastor Lewis-Jiles has given to the area, she has a very optimistic outlook for the future. In talking about the church, Pastor Lewis-Jiles spoke very highly of the community members, calling them generous and giving. She stated that, although there are stories about crimes being reported on the news, she would not associate this stigma with the people of Washington Park. Instead, as seen in the church attendance and donation chart, this small church raises an average of $277 each Sunday from the average of 40 people who attend the weekly service. Pastor Lewis-Jiles believes that in the next eight years, the houses in this neighborhood will be improved. She said "Buying is good; when you have buyers and citizens who own their homes [rather than renting], there is a sense of pride and dignity." She went on to describe how people who own their homes have a tendency to take care of them more so than those who are simply renting. The more homes in Sherman Boulevard that can be bought in the next decade, the brighter the future will be. Pastor Lewis-Jiles emphasized the "fluency" of the community. She used this term to describe how the neighborhood is united and how relationships actively flow between the people. Through education and/or services provided by the church along with jobs and events, the people of N. 38th Street and N. 39th Street find common ground to come together as a community. |
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