By Morgan Mizell

NATCHEZ — The Fourth Street Church of Christ will soon have a new meeting place at the Covington Road Church of Christ.
Pastor Dwight Greene said the congregation has outgrown its current location, and is looking forward to more growth as they develop his vision for the church to become a beacon for education and health in the community.

“I believe churches are able to fit a need, or fill a niche in the community, and we are able to discover what niche we can fill when we look at the make up of our congregation,” Greene said. “We have several retired teachers and coaches, and it makes sense that we can do outreach in these areas.”

Greene’s father, Windell Greene, Sr., put roots down for the church at the Fourth Street location in 1978. He was instrumental in initiating community outreach including a radio show entitled, “Manna in the Morning,” on WTYJ for more than twenty years.

“We have been hosting health fairs and school supply giveaways in efforts to reach the un-churched,” Greene said. “We have been successful; however, my goal since coming to the church in 2002, as assistant pastor, and moving into senior pastor in 2006, has been to get the church in a position to reach the next generation.”

The Covington Road location has several features which will be beneficial for future growth of the congregation, and the church’s’ overall outreach goal.

“We plan to expand the facility, and offer daycare, preschool, and eventually, K-12 education,” Greene said. “We also have plans to utilize the field area for softball, soccer and flag- football.”

Greene said they hope to eventually offer another option for education in the area.

“We are not looking to take away from anyone who is here now,” Greene said. “We hope to be a ‘catch-all,’ if you will, for students who looking for high academic standards and solid Christian morals and values, and who may not fit elsewhere.”

The plans for moving into the new facility have been delayed by weather and other unforeseen circumstances, but Greene said they hope to be in house by May.

“Our initial hope was to be in the building by Easter,” Green said. “That will not be the case.”

Greene has followed his father’s example of community outreach by hosting his own radio show on Wednesday mornings on WTYJ, “The Relevant Word,” and by implementing several projects for all of the age groups in the congregation.

“We have hosted job fairs, prayer breakfasts, marriage retreats and summer camps,” Greene said. “We are constantly striving to help the community in various ways.”

Greene’s interests are with meeting the needs of the community, and challenging people to do more than talk about the problems in the area.

“Many times in scripture, you see Jesus feeding the people, or healing them before he gave them the message. We want to help get folks ready to receive God’s word,” Green said. “I have also challenged the congregation to do more than talk about the troubles of our youth and the community. I have told them we have to act, and help. I think this facility and the plans we have, can and will do that.”

The building where Fourth Street meets currently will be placed on the market soon.

The Covington Road Church of Christ congregation will move to the old employment office on Briarwood Road.