by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
More than 1,500 people are experiencing Jacksonville and Downtown, many for the first time, as part of the 119th Annual National Convention of the Church of the Living God Christian Workers Fellowship.
The delegates began checking in at the Hyatt Downtown last weekend for the eight-day series of classes, meetings, worship, fellowship and community outreach.
Bringing the group to Jacksonville for the first time was aided by a $6,500 grant from the Duval County Tourist Development Council approved in May 2009.
The grant will help defray the church’s marketing cost for the event and will be reimbursed based on invoices presented after the convention adjourns, said Annette Hastings, executive director of the council.
The church is a nondenominational, nonsectarian Bible-based faith that started in 1888 near Wrightsville, Ark., by Rev. William Christian.
Today, there are 114 Church of the Living God temples in the United States, Europe and Haiti, said Presiding Bishop Robert Tyler.
He said one of the reasons Jacksonville was chosen as the site of this year’s gathering was the presence of the MAD DADS anti-drug and anti-violence organization and its board chair, Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin of Potter’s House Christian Fellowship.
Tyler said he and Church of the Living God Vice Chief Bishop LeRoy Smith Jr. have led organizations that have grown in scope all over the United States.
One of their missions in coming to Jacksonville is to leave behind a church temple along Atlantic Boulevard at St. Johns Bluff Road.
“We’re here to spread our work and increase our street ministry,” said Tyler.
Another item on the agenda while in Jacksonville is to reach out to the local homeless community, said Smith.
Church members plan to walk Downtown’s streets as part of the “Unshackled Helping Individuals Program.”
Smith said the members will seek to take their ministry to homeless people, drug abusers and gang members.
“We’ll take them from the dope pit to the pulpit,” he said.
Overseer Lawrence White said after the street-level outreach this weekend, the church will establish a “grassroots, community-focused ministry that will remain in Jacksonville to engage people and show them the love of Christ.”
Tyler made it clear that whatever the church does in Jacksonville, the intent is to add to what is already in place.
“When we enter into another domain, we acknowledge the work done by others. We hope we can have the same impact as Potter’s House and Bishop McLaughlin. If we can achieve any portion of that impact, we will feel that God has blessed us,” he said.
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