Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Knoxville

    The Lighthouse Project: Meeting the Needs of the People

    Vivian Underwood ShipeBy Vivian Underwood ShipeSeptember 22, 2022No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Keira Wyatt and Monica Reed, C.O.O. for C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries welcome guests to the presentation. Photo by Vivian Shipe
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    By Vivian Shipe

    Reverend and Presiding Elder of the Knoxville A.M.E. District, John Butler pledges his support of the project. Photo by Vivian Shipe

    KNOXVILLE, TN — In the heart of the historic Burlington Community, a massive piece of Black American history, a part of the underground railroad, originally called the Freedom House stands; waiting to be restored. Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church was established in 1845 and is the oldest African American Church in Knoxville. It sits as the gateway in Burlington, a black community rich with history and promise.

    Pastor Cleo Brooks and Keira Wyatt, Executive Director of C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries have partnered and are working together to create community partnerships to make promises made long ago, come to light and bring hope and life back into the community.

    Thus, was born The Lighthouse Project. The vision of the church on the corner becoming the light for the community – leading those in need to areas of help, and providing housing, training, and stabilization.

    Advertisement
    Duane Grieves with the East Tennessee Community Design Center. Photo submitted

    To introduce the plans to restore the sections of the massive church to be used by the community – Mr. Duane Grieves, Executive Director of the East Tennessee Community Design Center, toured the building and made a presentation before a packed room in the fellowship hall of Greater Warner on the state of the building – complete with photos of the sections of the church that he believed could be restored and the projected cost of restoration. Keira Wyatt presented the vision and Reverend Brooks, who sent out the community invitation- gave the purpose and led a group discussion during the working dinner session set up by the church.

    Many were in attendance from the city and county. State Representative Sam McKenzie in whose district the church lies, was also in attendance as were representatives from New Directions, Renaissance, Housing, several banks, Community Gardens, and youth organizations including Drums Up, Guns Down. Most notable was the pledge by John Butler, Presiding Elder over the nine churches of the Knoxville District who stood and committed to help with the vision being presented.

    Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church Pastor Cleo Brooks shakes hands with Keira Wyatt Founder and CEO of C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries in front of a picture of a portion of the church to be restored. Photo by Vivian Shipe

    Monica Reed with C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries who will be instrumental to the project as it unfolds, spoke of the drawing light of a Lighthouse, “The Lighthouse concept sends out a signal, providing guidance. It tells the lost the least, the scared, and the hopeless to look, lookup, – you can get lost looking down., come this way”

    Come to Burlington.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Vivian Underwood Shipe

    Related Posts

    Knoxville’s Beck Met Gala Raises $25,000

    May 15, 2025

    GRSM Opens Knoxville Office to Support Growing Demand Across Southern Region

    May 14, 2025

    Attorney Ben Crump Seeks Answers in Knoxville: “No One Can Explain Why They Killed Him”

    April 24, 2025

    Jackie’s Dream: A Homerun for Smokey’s Stadium

    April 1, 2025

    Black K.A.R.E. Health Fair: The Links Inc. Promotes Kidney Awareness

    February 27, 2025

    Mary Goins Celebrates 104 Years

    February 19, 2025

    Comments are closed.

    Business

    Charlotte Knight Griffin Takes Office as TBA President-Elect

    June 30, 2025

    EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

    June 19, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Report from Neighborhoods USA Conference in Jacksonville

    June 4, 2025
    1 2 3 … 384 Next
    Education
    Education

    Austin Peay’s MPH program receives $27K for childhood literacy initiative. Community LIFT Project to be implemented at Head Start centers this fall

    By Ethan SteinquestJune 30, 2025

    CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s Master of Public Health program is on a…

    TSU, State, reach agreement to reallocate $96M to school

    June 26, 2025

    TSU student lands prestigious internship at Harvard Medical School

    June 25, 2025

    FAMU stakeholders file lawsuit to prevent Marva Johnson’s confirmation as the university’s 13th President

    June 21, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/