Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-09
Church Center
of Community
Life of Negro
Development Of Activities in
Omaha Bringing Colored
Churches Closer to Every.
day Life.

churches that are not merely
.ruFehes. but the eenteFs OF COM
muni,y lie ot their respective
nelshboEhoodsl
That description. the aim oi many
\ church. actually applies In large
degree 10 the churches ot Omaha
eolorsd people. The fact is given
publicity by \ statement OF the 0ma-
ha ColoFed Commercial club. which
saws
The eoloFed churches are used as
community een,ers in which all the
various activities oi interest 10 the
eolared population are carried out." !"
Religious society among the coll
ofed people in Omaha began hall a
century ago. The movement has
grown until there are now about
5000 persons connected with the IL
churches and 10 active denomins-
,ions. The combined real estate
holdings OF the churches has been
estimated at more than S2so.0OO.
Uplifting Influence.
In addition 10 the IL pastors OF
churches. there are several ordained
ministers belonging TO the Min
iSterial alliance. all having an upliit-
ing influence in the civic as well as
in religious affairs OF the COM
munity.
That the eolored people have de-
veloped their church activities 10 a
state which brings the church closer
10 everyday life is the belief OF
many eolored men OF influence.
The ministers encourages groun ct
forts along constructive lines. They
are advising their members 10 buy
homes. keep them up and improve
conditions in the neighborhood in
which they live. Recently one OF the
ministers said:
Room for Improvement.
"ln the field OF religious activity
the negro has done much, but a
great deal remains 10 be done. we
need TO develop in the young men
and women deeper spiritual devo-
ton and a finer moral sense. Our
entry into the modern economic
struggle in this country has not
made for moral progress among us.
Here we will have to guard our
selves. First the minister must be
guarded. helped and strengthened
and then the lesson must be taught
to others"
This idea is carried out in the ac-
tivities Of the various churches. Each
church has its organization OF young
and old people as we'll as organiza-
tons embracing the entire member
ship.
The church is the meeting place
and all activities are carried on there.
There are suppers. dinners, enter
tainments of all kinds and programs
in which the grownups as we'll as
children appear. The members not
only meet on religious plane, but
become interested in each other from
a community standpoint.
Minister as Guide.
sOne reason for this was the alb
scnce in earlier days of halls and
meeting places for colored people
+. exclusively. Gradually: the church
became popular as place of public
gathering and, in addition to being
house of worship, became public
forum and community center.
At the head of the interchurch
organizations, the minister stands as
a guide. The member is taking his
secular problems as we'll as his re-
l;gious problems to his, minister for
proper advice. =,
There are few nights that see all
the churches dark. There are many
organizations and their activities
bring the members together Tor rec
rcation or study on numerous occa-
sions. More and more the ministers
are encouraging their members to
make more of the church as a COM
n,,nity center -.t .r.-