Center for Social Empowerment & Justice Launched in Ferguson
News

And yet, for others, like Rev. F. Willis Johnson, “Ferguson” is not just a hashtag but a place they call home. In 2011, Johnson moved to Ferguson and helped launch Wellspring Church, a new church start of the Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. A predominantly African-American congregation, Wellspring sits just one block from the Ferguson police station, the site of several protests last fall and on the first anniversary of Mike Brown’s death.

Where have we seen God? One change has been the consistent news focus on race-related tragedies— from the streets of New York to the sanctuaries of South Carolina to a jail in Texas. The spotlight on the pain has been grueling for some faith leaders and activists. Like 1950s civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer, many are “sick and tired of being sick and tired!”
Despite the grueling year, Johnson and others insist that there is indeed hope in Ferguson, Missouri. There is hope for all of the “Fergusons” around the state and the country. This year’s events have become a catalyst for conversation and action concerning equity, empowerment, and systemic injustices across the nation.

This launch occurred with a week full of events, including a national conference for black scholars, a conference for doing ministry in crisis scenarios, a school supplies drive, and a symposium about what’s next in the business community for Ferguson.
With an understanding that problems and solutions are both local and national, the Center will focus on three primary components: education, enterprise, and engagement.
To learn more about how the Center is seeking to lead community growth from a faith center, check out the Center’s website at www.fueledtochange.com.