REV . DOYLE MOORE , PASTOR OF STRAIGHT GATE COMMUNITY CHURCH , CUTS A CLIENT ’ S HAIR AT HIS BARBERSHOP , A CUT ABOVE , OFF OF MADISON AVENUE IN ANDERSON .
Ministries specifically for men and women are planned , as well .
Moore and a few other Black men formed a group called “ Big Homies ,” which parked a hearse at 16th Street and Madison Avenue after shootings occurred on the west side of Anderson in 2022 .
The idea was to start conversations about preventing shooting deaths . “ They sat out there all night to let them know , ‘ We ’ re here for you . You don ’ t have to die or fight , we can talk ,’” Burgess recalls .
A MEMBER OF STRAIGHT GATE COMMUNITY CHURCH SINGS A SONG DUR- ING A SERVICE IN WHICH CONGREGANTS THANKED GOD FOR HIS WORK IN THEIR LIVES .
that , but I think we ’ ve kind of gotten away from that .
“ I ’ m kind of trying to build that structure again , like , ‘ Hey , you can depend on the church . You can come here and get healing , ( or ) we ’ ll point you in the right direction for healing for mental health .’”
Recently , Straight Gate Church implemented a Bible-based 12-step program called Breaking Free . The group meets at the church at 6 p . m . Mondays .
The church has fed the hungry and distributed hats and gloves to homeless people . Straight Gate also led services at Black Expo and Soul Fest and sometimes hosts an event called Fire on Fridays , when various churches come together for worship . All churches are welcome , McClendon notes .
Ministering , to Moore , is not about sharing a message but being living proof that there ’ s hope , starting with his own story . “ I ’ m actually cleared to go back to the prison I was in ” to give hope through God to inmates .
“ Just to go back in there after doing that time and to see those guys I ’ ve done time with ,” Moore says . “ It ’ s a hopeless situation sometimes . But when you see somebody who ’ s walked that walk come in , it does something to them .” •
2023 Diversity Magazine 23