By Cormac Parker       

“On every corner of this city, you can find two things: a liquor store and a church,” said James Smith, a senior at the University of Memphis. “I have never lived in a city with this many churches. I guess I am in the middle of the Bible Belt.” 

With close to 2,000 churches in the city of Memphis, it is not unreasonable to ask the question— what is the role of the “church” and are they fulfilling the role? With all of the crime, poverty, and homelessness, what is the church doing to help combat these needs? The University of Memphis stands tall in the district with over 22,000 students. How is the church connecting with this major university that sits in its back yard?

The search for a church within walking distance of the campus was not long. Exactly one block from the U of M sits St. Luke’s United Methodist Church where Michael Pence serves as pastor.

Pence said the role of the church universally and even locally is to be the light of the world and that, in order to evaluate any community for its strengths and its weaknesses, first start by examining what those churches are doing.

“I believe that the church is supposed to be that place that sets the example,” he said.

“The cafeteria was the only place black students could eat,” Wallin said. “None of the local restaurants would let them in the door.”

It had been only three years prior that African-Americans had been admitted to the university. When the institution was founded in 1912 as the West Tennessee State Normal School, only three requirements had to be met for admission: students had to be 16-years-old, an elementary school graduate and white.

By John Martin/ MicroMemphis Reporter

Zach Stark realizes it’s a mostly unorthodox cause.

Stark, who mans the recreational center at St. John’s Episcopal Church at the corner of Greer and Central, and his church have started an ongoing drive called “Wipes 4 Workouts.”

But he’s hoping the community in the district rallies just as they would for a food drive or anything like it.

“It’s kind of self-explanatory,” Stark said. “We have a lot of people who come in and work out in our facilities, and lots of times these are people who don’t come from privilege or a silver-spoon background. Our operation here is modest, so we need all the help we can get.”

Just like Charlie needed his golden ticket to get into the chocolate factory, families in need had to have a pink ticket to receive a box of goodies from the Feed The Children truck on April 10. The Word Church at 3852 Park Avenue collaborated with Serving Up Hope, a non-profit organization who ran a tennis tournament as a charity event. The donations helped raised funds to sponsor a food truck delivered to the church. Pastor Aaron Litzsey and his supporters gave out 4 hundred tickets to impoverished families on two separate occasions. Here is a video of Pastor Aaron Litzsey and Alex Batts.

Pastor Paul Eknes-Tucker spent his Valentine’s Day in Cooper Young at the Memphis Gay and Lesbian Community Center for the launch of the Free Condoms Memphis safe sex initiative. Wait. What? The words pastor, condoms and sex in the same sentence? Yes, and that is only the beginning. 

Pastor Paul, as he likes to be called, is the pastor of Holy Trinity Community Church at 685 South Highland. Pastor Paul was at the Free Condoms Memphis launch because his church is on the list of 30 locations across Memphis where free condoms are available through the program. 

In Holy Trinity’s case, the condoms are available through the church’s food pantry program. 

You see, Pastor Paul seems to have realistic ideas about people and sexuality. He says, “The reality is, all of us have sex, all of us. So do we just pretend like we don’t and we don’t know anything about sexuality? Or, do we educate our children so that when they get into situations where they’re going to be sexual, they will at least have the information to protect themselves or they can make good decisions?” 

Below are photos from Second Presbyterian Church's weekly collegiate Bible Study called "901". The atmosphere is full of energetic students happy to see each other and worship together. For more information on "901" see previous article written by Caray Oldham.

The area code for Memphis is 901, but to many University of Memphis Students it's more than an area code. It is a time, a place, and a religious safe haven for more than 200 college students every Tuesday night.

Less than a mile from the University of Memphis, nestled between Poplar and Central avenues is the Second Presbyterian Church. Second Pres, as many call it for short, is home to a collegiate outreach ministry called "901."

On any Tuesday night around 9:01 p.m. you can see hundreds of students flooding through the doors of the church for a Bible study led by students where they can share their personal stories, play games and have friendly competitions all while growing their faith.