By Faith Callens, For the Tribune
CENTER POINT — The Center Point City Council held a public hearing on Thursday, May 19, for residents to voice their concerns or opinions about the possibility of a storefront church being within a shopping center.
Center Point Pastor Lorenzo Huggins of Friendship Christian Church Ministries was present to speak to the council and said he supports the idea of a storefront church.
“We are for the result, and we are looking to move closer into the Center Point community in some retail space next to the post office, and if we are allowed to, we promise to be good neighbors to the community and to be very purposeful,” Huggins said.
Huggins said he believes the area next to the post office will give his members a larger space to host their worship services, mid-week services, and any community activities.
As a result of the feedback from Pastor Huggins, the council voted to allow the city to have two storefront churches in the shopping center plaza within the city.
Mayor Bobby Scott said the city has never allowed churches to operate in a storefront building, and he said the council was willing to amend and pass the ordinance to allow the churches to do so.
In other business, the council approved three resolutions involving a travel advance for the members of the council, the relocation of public utilities for the Polly Reed Road Project, and the awarding bid for the Glenwood Project.
The next council meeting is on June 2.