Chattanooga: Taking the message to the people

In a section of the city where an epitaph spraypainted on the side of a vacant building memorializes Jacquard Petty, the victim of a nightclub shooting in early July, the churches of East Chattanooga are trying to change the culture of violence and fear by bringing their services, their songs and their message outdoors.

On Sunday, Mount Canaan Baptist Church and Thankful Missionary Baptist Church held services under tents as part of the Church Outside the Walls effort. Organizer Stanley Thurman, chairman of the Deacon Board at Thankful Baptist, said he was praying for Mr. Petty when he received the inspiration to unite the more than 30 area churches around a common cause.

“We’re just convinced that if the churches would come together, then God would heal the land because the land is sick with violence, gang activity and drugs,” he said.

In the summer of 2007, the neighborhood had five shootings in less than three weeks, and homicides in the area increased by 50 percent between 2004 and 2006, reports show. Based on its crime rate, East Chattanooga received a $1 million Weed and Seed grant from the U.S. Department of Justice last September to set up anti-crime social programs over the next five years.

Growing up in East Chattanooga, Sherrie Dowdy’s family used to camp out in the living room on hot nights to be near the open front door. People didn’t worry about their safety, she said, because everybody looked after everyone else. Now, when she visits friends who still live in the area, she said, they get up to make sure the front door is locked and the alarm system active.

“We used to have ‘Big Mama’ to look after everybody and everybody on the street looked out for her,” said Ms. Dowdy, who now lives in Brainerd but attends Mount Canaan Baptist Church. “Everybody’s doing their own separate thing now. And it’s totally different.”

Forestine Haynes, a member of Thankful Baptist, who was raised and works in the East Chattanooga, said Sunday’s message was an important call to action.

“People are afraid to come through the doors, so we’ve got to be bold enough to come out of the doors,” she said. “It’s the responsibility of those of us who’ve been blessed to bless others.”

In a show of unity, Pastors Oscar Lockhart Sr. of Thankful Baptist and Ternae Jordan of Mount Canaan Baptist both built their sermons on the Second Chronicles 7:14 — “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” — and other area churches are expected to follow suit in upcoming weeks.

The Rev. Jordan said the response from his congregation was overwhelmingly positive, but he also stressed that the problems in the community were not unique to Chattanooga. What will make Chattanooga different from other cities across the country, he said, is if the churches can bring about positive change.

“I believe that Chattanooga is small enough and has enough churches and Christians that we can make an impact if we can just come together.”

Fellow Mount Canaan church member Tara Sales said she was moved by evidence that the effort has already changed lives. One middle-aged man, she said, was riding by the service on his bicycle and he stopped to listen across the street. A few minutes later, she said, he crossed the street to listen a little closer.

“It just really touched me that I could tell that we touched someone in the community because they stopped, they listened, the cars slowed down,” she said. “Just touching one soul is a blessing.”

Another young man who was walking by the sermon stayed for the service and later announced his decision to dedicate his life to God, Mr. Thurmond said. At least five people from the surrounding community attended services at Thankful Baptist Sunday and decided to join the church, he said.

Even five conversions, however, are not enough, he said.

“Until we know that we have run out and thrashed an entire community, we will not be content,” Mr. Thurmond said.