More Than Just A Vision
The Hickory Ridge Mall has a new suitor in the form of World Overcomers Christian Church. The city has backed away from it's earlier proposal to buy the mall and use it as a multipurpose facility for the second single largest residential area in Tennessee. Whether they acquired the mall or not. That's something this city still has to build eventually. We don't have the needed facilities to accommodate the number of citizens we have. I wasn't against the city's idea, but this one is better. This is conservative principles at their finest. They are reinvesting in the community that supports them. With the blessings of God this idea is going to work.
Think about what we have here. A proposed venue that sells clothes, food and has a large independent facility for entertainment. Notice they haven't mentioned holding church services there. Which allows for some non-church events. That may stop some of that Desoto county hemorrhaging we're experiencing now. Considering Blacks make up 70% of the city's population and 98% of that 13,000 member congregation. Needless to say they'll have far reaching arms of influence. The black Christian community alone can pull this off. If jealousy doesn't rear it's ugly head. Causing other pastors and churches not to support the venture because it isn't them. An endeavor of this size requires repeat customers. You can't go one time and claim you've given your support. This isn't the first time this idea has been on the table. Just the first time it was more than just a vision.
posted by Common at
6:27 PM
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World Overcomers
Hickory-Hill-based World Overcomers has a contract to buy the Hickory Ridge Mall.
Price: $1.4 million
Property: The mall concourse area, 45 acres and a parcel with a restaurant
Plans:
1,500-seat banquet and conference center
Family-friendly movie theater
Family entertainment center with mini-golf, bumper cars, arcade, etc.
Possible ongoing outdoor carnival rides and games
Recording studio and online radio for teens
Christian singles club
Childcare facility
Anti-gang programs
Outreach facilities for the Hispanic population
Small-business incubators
Good idea
World Overcomers Church has big plans for Hickory Ridge Mall site
World Overcomers aims for community resource
By Lindsay Melvin (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Apostle Alton R. Williams' phone has not stopped ringing since he announced his church's intention to buy the Hickory Ridge Mall for $1.4 million.
Some callers are looking to rent space, some are championing the plans to turn the mall into a wholesome family setting and others are asking if his congregation would consider purchasing other defunct shopping centers.
"We're getting a lot of calls," said Williams, pausing to answer yet another one.
There's another question he keeps hearing, and to make it clear, he said, "Tell them we ain't putting any statues up."
Located down the road from the mall on Winchester, World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church is perhaps best known for its towering replica of the Statue of Liberty holding a cross and the Ten Commandments.
The pastor of the nondenominational Hickory Hill church says when the church closes on the 45-acre site on Oct. 24, it will be through a bank loan.
But on Sunday he will make a plea to his nearly 3,000 attendees to help pay off the debt and volunteer skills to transform the storm-damaged property.
The pastor envisions a combination of retail, community service and family entertainment.
"This is what we call kingdom work," he said. "It's beyond the four walls of this church."
Williams hopes it will become a beacon of hope for an ailing Hickory Hill, which by some Memphians has been dubbed "Hickory Hood."
The mall will be separate from the church and will be taxed as a for-profit business, he said.
City officials, who recently dropped a bid to buy the property for fire and police services, have not expressed interest in renting space.
The complex will include a Christian singles' club, restaurant, childcare, baby thrift store, prenatal services, 1,500-seat banquet hall, movie theater, employment services, adult education, fitness center, pharmacy and a family entertainment center similar to Incredible Pizza in Cordova.
The massive mall undertaking is being modeled after the Living World Christian Center based in Illinois, which runs two shopping centers.
Unlike that endeavor, however, Williams does not intend to make the mall the church's new home. "Our church will stay right here."
The mall makeover will be done in phases, and Williams expects the entire project to be complete in two to three years.
Though these are tough economic times, Williams has faith God will provide, he said.
Recalling when he succeeded his father as pastor of the once 400-member congregation in 1981, he said, "We didn't have enough money. We didn't have enough people."
Since then, the church has grown to more than seven times its former membership and bought the 50-acre Central Church campus on Winchester for $10 million in 2001. The church paid off its debts in 2006.
Longtime Hickory Hill advocates, World Overcomers has held free Fourth of July parties and opened a 20-acre baseball park on Ross Road for the community.
Stacy L. Spencer, pastor of neighboring New Direction Christian Church, praised the project in a written statement. "Apostle Williams has long been an advocate for this community, and I'm sure his plans will bring the much-needed revitalization to Hickory Hill."
I have looked at this situation with an even more scrutinizing eye than I did initially. After a closer look. I am even more convinced this is a great idea.
The naysayers are either antagonistic toward the faith or anti A.R.Williams. Neither of which will be enough to derail this project.
This is an undertaking by the WOOMC not by the pastor himself. The members of the congregation made this whole thing possible. He is the CEO, but it was done under his leadership.
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