From Quiet Walls to Gospel Witness
How First United Presbyterian became a voice for the marginalized in Athens, Tennessee.
Answering the Call
For more than two decades, the church lived quietly within its walls. That began to change when Pastor Juanita Lewis led her congregation to see that worship and witness cannot be separated. Under her leadership, the church stepped forward to meet hunger with hospitality and silence with advocacy.
“Juanita has been a blessing to us,” said Erika Galish, Executive Director at Grace and Mercy Ministries. “She comes to chat with us or to have a meal with clients. It is great for clients to see that people in our community care and will help when they can.”
This fresh sense of calling quickly translated into action, beginning with something as simple and as powerful as sharing food.
More Than a Meal
Each month, First United Presbyterian provides the bulk of meals at a low-income site through Grace and Mercy Ministries, covering 85 percent of the food. But the partnership goes deeper than calories—every plate comes with prayer, encouragement, and dignity.
“This helps our community make better decisions when they have a full stomach,” Galish shared. “Food opens the door to hope.”
The ministry of presence soon grew beyond meals. Community Connectors gatherings, neighborhood canvassing, and participation in cookouts began to surface priorities like safer parks and tutoring programs. What began at the table became a movement of reconnection.
Growing Impact and Trust
- 85% of meals supplied monthly through Grace and Mercy partnership
- Community Connectors gatherings held monthly
- Neighborhood priorities surfaced: safer parks, tutoring programs, civic participation
First United Presbyterian is closing a deep structural and relational trust gap forged by years of political underrepresentation and neighborhood neglect. In a city where low-income families rarely see their concerns reflected in public decisions, the presence of Pastor Lewis and her members in council chambers and on neighborhood doorsteps is reviving trust in the church as a vessel of love, justice, and change.
“We are not only serving meals. We are advocating for recreation space in neglected neighborhoods, pushing back on harmful policies, and linking arms with other churches and agencies. That is how God’s work comes alive in Athens.” — Everett Gillespie
A Legacy Beyond the Walls
“We are making a difference and being a voice for those in our community who cannot make it out to City Council meetings. Time out for standing idly by.” — Pastor Juanita Lewis
This is not charity. It is gospel embodied—feeding bodies, restoring dignity, and shaping systems in the name of Christ.
Community Partnership Score – First United Presbyterian
| Category | Score | Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Community Presence | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Visible through monthly meals, Community Connectors gatherings, and consistent neighborhood presence |
| Partnership Depth & Alignment | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Strong ties with Grace and Mercy Ministries, SOCM, and local AME and Baptist churches |
| Gospel Transformation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | Evidence of testimonies, prayer, renewed mission identity, and Christ-like witness |
| Visible Community Impact | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Provides 85% of monthly meals and hosts gatherings naming local priorities |
| Lasting Impact | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | Culture is moving outward as members serve and partners engage |
Overall CPS: 4