A couple of week back, I watched my camera crew move from spot to spot, inside the ‘Historic Mount Zion AME” church in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. The choir sang and parishioners seemed to move in the spirit.
I was tapping my feet to the sound of the old black hymn, ‘God is good.” Listening as the Reverend Frederick D. Richardson Jr. begins speaking. An older man, who walks deliberately, and seems to share with conviction.
Besides the planned sermon, Rev. Richardson launched into a pep talk. Tossed in between scriptures, was a spiritual sales pitch of sorts, asking congregants to consider moving– permanently– to downtown Jacksonville.
Like many other mid-size American cities, when times were good, Jacksonville was rolling in dough and hope. But as the economy began tumbling, building projects stalled, and optimism began to wane. A reality that’s reflected in a myriad of cities across the country.
But Jacksonville is reaching out in faith, and meeting with a group of 12 different churches, asking families to consider moving into downtown neighborhoods. The city says it needs at least ten thousand new residents to take up permanent homes in what’s known as ‘the core.’
Mayor John Peyton tells me these congregations are responsible for bringing nearly 1 million people into downtown each year. Church-goers who collectively spend millions on concerts and conventions, and those dollars directly impact the region.
I hear a different song now being sung by the red-robed choir. A sea of old and young swaying together. The Rev. Richardson is lauding his flock for its years of consistent attendance. His words punched inbetween the drum set and organ solos. His glasses, thick with brown rims.
This nearly 150 year old church understands that a true downtown “economic revival” may help keep its own doors open. And City leaders “make no bones” about reaching out to Jacksonville’s so-called “church army,” hoping it can preach the gospel of good business.
I see Rev. Richardson on his knees. Service is almost over. I hear a chorus of “Amens” and “I believe’s.” I suspect Mayor Peyton is thinking the same thing.