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Neighborhood Christian Centers start congregations
The Commercial Appeal - April 15, 1999
by Syneetra A. Williams
---- Fellowshipping
Some people plant flowers and others vegetables; the Neighborhood Christian Centers, is
planting churches.
The Tennessee District Church of the Nazarene has joined with Neighborhood Christian Centers
(NCC) to start three congregations.
The churches got their start at the centers' facility at 223 Scott before moving into property
purchased by the district Church of the Nazarene.
After there move, the centers support the congregations by setting up social programs to help the
poor served by their churches and helping with the donation of supplies.
The new congregations are Refreshing Springs Ministries, 4935 Elvis Presley Blvd., where
Rev. Rickey Gillard is the minister; Holiness Outreach Ministries, 1979 Pinedale, where Rev.
McArthur Jackson is the pastor, and Son Light Ministries, 2430 Chelsea. Stanley Douglas is the
pastor at Son Light.
"NCC has been a blessing in helping our church to get started. I went to them and immediately
they helped me get established. They are like a mother-figure. Through them God has blessed
us," says Jackson.
The centers' mission is to provide compassionate Christ-like ministry to the practical and
spiritual needs of the city's poor.
"We are a Christian social service that serves 125, 000 clients each year," said JoeAnn Ballard,
executive director.
"Copyright, (1999), The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN 38103. Used with permission. Notice: This article may not be copied, downloaded, or reproduced in any form or medium without express, written permission from The Commercial Appeal."