Beyond meeting the expectations of shareholders, banks have an obligation to meet the needs of the communities they serve.
The same can be said for the faith-based community. In addition to serving members, Detroit’s churches have a history of meeting the needs of surrounding neighborhoods by any available means.
And when banks and churches work together, with an objective of community development, the potential for good is great, as being witnessed on Detroit’s west side at 18211 Plymouth Road, home of New Providence Baptist Church.
Louise Guyton, a 42-year Comerica Bank veteran, affectionately known around town as the Church Lady for her longtime support of Detroit’s faith-based community, has had an up-close view of New Providence’s transformation.
“I was involved early on when Pastor (Everett) Jennings shared his vision,” said Guyton, vice president of Public Affairs at Comerica and Community Reinvestment Act manager.
“I literally took the hard hat tour and listened to that dream of what this building could turn into. To see it as it is now and think about where it was ten years ago, I’m just amazed at what a strong faith-based institution with strong leadership can do to transform the community.”
A decade ago, Guyton walked along a site which had formerly been a K-Mart located at Plymouth and the Southfield Freeway. New Providence, whose history in the city dates back to 1950, was purchasing the land to accommodate a growing membership and expand its spiritual and community outreach.
The tour Guyton was given on Sept. 25 provided an unveiling of New Providence’s recently completed Phase 2 renovations which include a chapel, gymnasium, classrooms, conference rooms, banquet facility, nursing room and office space.
“It’s just a beautiful church and a testament of the partnerships that can be made between faith-based institutions and faith-based institutions and our neighborhoods,” said Guyton, who attended anniversary celebration the next day at New Providence, for Pastor Walter Cheeks of New St. Peter’s Baptist Church.
“This can work for everyone. Jobs have been created; the daycare and preschool are already in operation; the banquet facility has hosted events; and the gymnasium will be another anchor for the community.
“The vision of the pastor and the pastor’s wife (Barbara Jennings) speaks so much for their passion for the community and for the people.”
Like Guyton, Kenneth Reeves has performed 42 years of service at Comerica. He also has a special connection to New Providence as a 20-year member.
“We look as the church as a community center,” said Reeves, who served as a key liaison between the church and Comerica during the financing process.
“If there is something the community needs we’ll bring the resources to the church so it can be shared with our community.
“We have parenting classes, an annual free clothing give-away, school supply giveaway. It’s a good thing to see the kids walk away with a smile on their face with a new backpack. And that’s why we bought the gymnasium — for the kids and for the community.
“If there was one message that I would like to send to the entire community about our church, that message would be inclusion. Everyone is welcome, but when you come over, you’ve got to come to work. We need everyone’s tools to make a strong church and a strong community. We’re all a family.”
In addition to Guyton and Reeves, during the past decade, a host of Comerica executives and officers have become acquainted with New Providence, including Elaine McMahon, Craig Dumo, Lisa Fitzpatrick, Tom Parnell, Karen Strehlke, Mark Vincent, Gloria Davenport, Anita Addington and Nancy Brower.
The services and expertise they provide to New Providence varied, but they all shared a belief in the church’s vision.
“In today’s difficult economic environment, it’s wonderful to see a large construction project completed in Detroit, which will benefit the community,” said Fitzpatrick, who represents Comerica’s Small Business Specialty Loan Group. “In addition, the New Providence building is an architectural model for other churches to follow in successfully converting an abandoned retail center to a vital church community center.”
Strehlke, who worked closely with the church at the beginning of the relationship, said, “The construction of New Providence was one of the most rewarding lending relationships I have been involved in. From the first time I met Pastor Jennings and his faith-based community in 1999, I believed in his vision, leadership, and prophecy to build a house of worship which reaches beyond its own walls and brings its many ministries to the community. It has truly been an honor and privilege to have been a part of this project.”
For Davenport, a Comerica banking center manager and 17-year New Providence member, the ultimate success of the church will be determined by how much is given.
“You name it, we do it, in terms of community programming,” said Davenport, a native of Atlanta, who came to Detroit in 1971. “But we still need to do a lot more giving for our community. We have to be committed to what we do and how we do it in terms of family, our community and our church.”
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