Friendship Baptist Church Unveils Plans For Community Life Center

By Melissa Spellman
Fall Intern 2023
New Journal and Guide

Friendship Baptist Church hosted a Render and Reveal launch on September 30, 2023, to plan for the construction of a community center. Pastor Greg Norris is in his 28th year as Senior Pastor at Friendship Baptist located at 3834 E. Princess Anne Road in Norfolk. This launch event shared the vision for this new facility with the community.

Many people were in attendance including Norfolk Councilwoman Mamie Johnson and Delegate Angelia Williams Graves. Councilwoman Johnson and Delegate Graves shared their desire to help through the process and protocol to bring this 5-million-dollar project into fruition.  

The building will be called The Strong Tower Community Life Center. “It’s going to be a fully functional facility. It’s not just going to be pretty on the outside it’s going to be for multipurpose use,” said Pastor Norris.

The vision and planning for The Strong Tower Community Life Center was not without a comprehensive evaluation of the needs of the community it will serve. Pastor Norris began his  research by going out into the community, talking to the civic leagues, and talking to the people in the community in Coleman Place and Estabrook to find out what it is that they desire to have in a community center.

Engaging with senior citizens and the youth in the community provided perspective on what to include in this new facility. “There’s no place for them to go and just sit down and have a cup of coffee or a sandwich,” said Pastor Norris upon speaking with seniors. “I compiled all this information. I talked to young people and asked them what they would like” he added.

This ambitious project will meet the needs of the community in ways that will enhance the lives of the people in the community. It will serve as a safe place for seniors and the youth. Pastor Norris shared details of the plans. One feature of The Strong Tower will be a cafeteria for senior citizens called the Crown and Glory Café. Here seniors can come and be safe, sit down, fellowship with one another, have somewhere to eat, and enjoy a cup of coffee.

This community life center will indeed be full of life. It will be a two-story building that will house a half court gymnasium, a full commercial kitchen, a daycare, preschool, afterschool care, a recording studio, cinema theater, indoor track, indoor playground, a fitness weight room, and a rooftop with outdoor dining. In addition to showers, a laundromat, and kitchen serving area. These amenities will offer the homeless a place to shower, wash their clothes, and receive a nutritional meal. This community center is “also for other churches that may not have the facility and they need to have functions or venues. That is what Strong Tower is there for. If they need to have a wedding or reception, it’s going to be a one stop shop,” proclaimed Pastor Norris.

Filled with excitement and a sense of urgency he discussed other initiatives, “We’re going to have a daycare. A tremendous daycare center to help with our young ladies that may not be able to afford daycare.” Pastor Norris wants to create an initiative where a portion of money paid towards daycare will go to help families purchase a home.

The Strong Tower will also include a barber shop and salon. 

Introductory training classes will be available where youth can learn a trade as a barber, or in plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.

“We want to take the guns out of these young boys’ hands and give them another tool, a trade. On top of all that we want to give them the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the main thing. If we can give them the gospel in a way where they can actually see a change because if I can change your mind I can change your destiny,” said Pastor Norris.

The hope is to build this new facility in the next 5 years. This project is in the foundational stages. However, the plans have energized people. Pastor Norris commented, “Some people have already started to give. They are excited about it. It’s going to take us to make this thing happen. I hope I get to see it in my lifetime.”

The promise of what The Strong Tower will bring to the surrounding communities of Friendship Baptist Church gives an overwhelming feeling of hopefulness and joy, said Pastor Norris. He leaves the community with these words, “If anybody who is interested in making a change and to help see this thing come to past donations are more than welcomed. We are trying to make a difference in the community where we are. We can’t do it all but at least we can do something. A seed that is not planted is a harvest that you will never see.”