Story and Photos BY INDHIRA SUERO
NNB Reporter
ST. PETERSBURG – It’s called the Avenue of Faith. It’s where the 20th Street Church of Christ stands. There are other nearby places of worship here in the heart of 9th Avenue South that serve as a symbol of the resilience in Midtown, a once vibrant African-American neighborhood during the era of segregation.
“I don’t remember those times because I’m not that old, but that’s the only church I know, the only (one) I ever been affiliated with. From a baby and I’m 67 years old now,” said Lawrence Dorn, a church member who grew up in Jordan Park. “We have gone through a lot of good changes, every minister we get has an impact on building the church,” he added.
According to the African American Heritage Project, this historical place —with six other major black denominations, Queen Street Church of God in Christ, Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, Stewart Memorial CME Church, Mount Zion Primitive Baptist Church, Elim Seventh Day Adventist Church and Mount Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist— played a role in the moral and social development of the neighborhood. The churches survived the integration that occurred in the city during the sixties and membership is up.
“At one time, we had 127 members now we have pretty close to a 1,000,” said Dorn about 20th Street Church of Christ membership. “A lot of people have come and a lot of people have gone, but this is a non-denominational church.”
Resilience
This house of worship has been a silent witness to the changes that the area has faced during its 88 years.
Its origins date to 1927 when, according to the church records, two brethren with the surnames of Richardson, and Dye enlisted the evangelistic services of brother Marshall M. Keeble of Nashville, Tenn. A tent meeting was constructed in which pastor Keeble baptized 92 people.
After its founding, Luke Miller became the first minister of the 20th Street Church and, according to church files, “divided his time between congregations in St. Petersburg, Lakeland, and Tampa.” Today, the Robert E. Smith leads the church.
While a newer main sanctuary for the congregation was built in 1989, the original building is still part of the church complex and houses the Police Athletic League of St. Petersburg.
Salvation
The place of worship does various ministries as evangelism, benevolence, personal work, baptism, education, youth services, prison, Seniors, Singles, Support Group, Outreach, Women of Faith, and Food Pantry. As well it offers the services of Nurses Guild, Bus, Nursery, Technology, Kitchen, Unity and Voices of Praise, and Bible study.
Every Sunday, members and visitors put together a choir of devotees that sing: “On my knees, bowed in prayer/ I take all my trials to God/ and gently lay them there/ He still bears, dries my tears/ only Jesus give me strength/ through all my trials…”
After this song, Dorn makes his own request for help by saying he would like to see Midtown come back to life.
“Everything changed with the interstate highway. Lots of buildings are gone,” said Dorn. “Things aren’t the same, but I hope that it changes someday.”
