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'Our role . . . is to improve peoples' lives'
Lealman United Methodist Church had risen as a home for community activism under the Rev. Paul Kelly, and its current minister Richard Jones intends to continue that mandate.
By ANNE LINDBERG
© St. Petersburg Times,
published August 5, 2001
LEALMAN -- The church that grew up with its community has become the epicenter of change in the neighborhood.
Consider this:
Lealman United Methodist Church has helped start the movement to revive the area and help its families. The church regularly opens its doors to community meetings. It provides office space for the Family Center and a play area for the center's summer camp.
"I think that that reflects the heart of the church," said the Rev. Richard Jones, the church's pastor. "There's a lot of growth and movement going on. It's germinating."
He added, "The church community here is like the best-kept secret. They're very loving and caring."
Jones has been Lealman United Methodist's pastor for the past year. He followed the Rev. Paul Kelly, who has now moved on to Melbourne. Under Kelly's leadership much of the church's community activism began. Jones is pleased to continue and expand that activism, saying he sees it as a mandate from Jesus.
"In the Old Testament, it says that without a vision and a purpose, people will perish," Jones said. "I think that's what happened to this community."
Many of the people in the area, he said, have lost hope for a better life. They are poor and come from broken homes. Many of the children are "latchkey kids," he said.
"I think there's a need to revive the hope in the people," Jones said. "I would emphasize that our role in the community is to improve peoples' lives and to meet their needs -- their needs for hope, purpose, direction and love."
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What: Lealman United Methodist Church
Where: 4090 58th Ave. N
Phone: 526-6240
Minister: The Rev. Richard Jones
Age: 33
Minister's Background: Before becoming a minister, worked in a mental rehabilitation center and at a private company providing psychological services for Alzheimer's patients.
Minister's Goal: "I feel a call as a pastor to revive people through a sense of love . . . the sense of love God has offered us."
Members: About 240, more in the winter
Programs: Girl Scouts, Brownies, home to the Lealman Family Center
Motto: "Where everybody is somebody."
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