Washington Heights UMC recently received a $365,000 grant to begin a major community revitalization project to address housing challenges in the neighborhood.
FAITH GREEN TIMMONS
Michigan Conference Communications
Dubbed the “Hub of Hope” by the surrounding community, Washington Heights United Methodist Church (UMC) in Battle Creek is claiming that title as a promise. On Saturday, July 13, 2024, families laughed, area residents played, and the congregation celebrated along with them over the success of the community’s third annual Day of Hope carnival and car show.
“Absolutely precious,” said Valerie Clemmer of the well-attended event. “Loved the event — I had such a great time!” commented townsman Tony Loveino. He added, “If this is an annual event, can I help sponsor next year?”
That was the idea: create more community partnerships and collaborative opportunities. Offering a safe space for neighborly fun was another benefit. The top goal was to initiate caring conversations. Rev. Dr. Monique French said addressing needs and learning how her congregation can help meet them is a critical perspective they hoped to gain from those living in the vicinity. “This is all to encourage camaraderie,” said Pastor French. “The live entertainment, carnival rides, car show, and festival are all about reigniting hope and encouraging engagement.”
For several months, Washington Heights UMC has had big plans in the works. In April, the congregation purchased two vacant lots from the city of Battle Creek, and they have been surveyed to create 12 lots. An additional five lots are going to be purchased from the Calhoun County Landbank. Their vision for the vacant lots is to build 17 new houses.
They also received a grant from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority’s Michigan Housing Opportunities Promoting Energy-Efficiency (MI-HOPE) program to adopt and target 66 older homes in the Washington Heights neighborhood for energy-efficient repairs. In collaboration with community partners, they have plans to repair and upgrade owner-occupied dwellings of residents in need. The goal is to update each home to meet energy-efficient standards. Some need new roofs, windows, or doors. Others have heating and cooling challenges. A few of the houses need new appliances and other furnishings.
With the support of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the church obtained an initial $365,000 grant for this “Recover Our Neighborhood” community project. That, plus a $50,000 loan from the Battle Creek Community Foundation, is seed money for the estimated cost of $10 million when the project is complete. The goal is to have the 17 new homes built by 2026.
Battle Creek has a severe housing shortage, especially for people in the low- and middle-income brackets. “Establishing a clearly defined route to home ownership is what we are seeking to do here, and that has several necessary steps,” explained Pastor French.
She continued, “We plan to host financial workshops to foster an understanding of what it takes to purchase and maintain a home — from securing loans to preparing for the ongoing responsibilities of property upkeep. Financial readiness is important. We are looking to meet the needs of families from the cradle to career. We are currently adopting the Purpose Built Community and Collective Impact framework that includes partnering with the Battle Creek Public Schools and other community organizations to provide wrap-around services to prepare potential homeowners for success.”
Pastor French was appointed to this Battle Creek congregation four years ago. Washington Heights UMC broke ground for its planned developments in April of this year. Despite making great strides in planning and preparation, the church recently learned that environmental concerns with the newly acquired land must be resolved. Fortunately, that potential challenge did nothing to thwart the weekend celebration earlier this month.
The amusement rides and attractions at the Day of Hope event were a huge draw. People showed up to show off their muscle cars, motorcycles, trucks, and hot rods. The Calhoun County Mounted Division paraded on horseback, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy the stallions. Live performers entertained guests of all ages as they enjoyed funnel cakes, pretzels, elephant ears, and a full range of games. The event also highlighted and supported local artisans, who set up retail booths. It was a win-win for all involved. Even the weather cooperated.
The most beautiful aspect of the day was the cultural diversity of the crowd as they enjoyed the benefits of experiencing Jesus’ church in action through the ministries of Washington Heights UMC in cooperation with Battle Creek Public Schools, the United Community Ministerial Alliance, and seven of the city’s churches: First Presbyterian, Maranatha Original Church of God, and Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal, in addition to these four Missionary Baptist Churches (MBC): Second MBC, Macedonia MBC, Shiloh MBC, and First Salem MBC.
The event was designed to raise awareness of the community services the churches offer. The congregations hope to gain the attention of those most in need. At the same time, members are intent on discerning the most pressing physical and spiritual concerns of local citizens. They are determined to help the neighborhood recover from decades of downward struggle. They believe that refurbishing homes is crucial to restoring hope.
Washington Heights UMC has taken steps of faith to pursue these initiatives, most recently hosting Day of Hope, a festival of this magnitude. In the days to come, they hope people will embrace what the church offers and avail themselves of the community resources. They also pray for the resources to complete the projects they have started. They encourage any person or organization with a heart for those in need to come alongside them in support.
Calhoun County continues to face unprecedented struggles, and the community surrounding the church is dealing with some of the poorest health outcomes in the state. Thankfully, the people of Washington Heights UMC are finding that the need to address those conditions has not escaped notice. They are grateful to any who wish to join them in their efforts to foster spiritual revival and residential revitalization. Those who have partnered with them seem to quickly realize precisely why the congregation is lovingly called the “Hub of Hope.”
Last Updated on August 6, 2024