Island Community Church

Neighborhood 360
Assessment
LOCAL
MINISTRY
WE BRING HELP AND HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY

YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD 360 ASSESSMENT
Introduction
History of Island Community Church
Mud Island Community
Uptown Community
Midtown Community
South Main Community
What's My Next Step?
2
3
4
11
16
21
25
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Island Community Church Local Ministry
WE BRING HELP AND HOPE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
God's grace brings salvation and restoration to our lives
and moves us to extend His gospel and grace to others.
(2 Cor. 5:11-21, Rom 1:16, Rom. 10:12-17, Jer. 29:7, Micah 6:8,
Matt. 25:31-41)
INTRODUCTION
Why we began the study: Island Community Church began the Neighborhood 360
Assessment process with a desire to learn more about our community and how to best
meet its needs.
Our goal was to more effectively learn how to bring help and hope to our community.
We desired to see where God was already at work and how we could join Him.
We recognized that our location strategically placed us at the intersection of 4
communities within a 15-minute drive from our church:
Mud Island (the community where the church was planted to reach)
Uptown (the community in which the church currently gathers within to worship)
Midtown (a long-term residential community within the heart of the city)
South Main Community (a Downtown neighborhood experiencing rapid
development)
The main goal was to gain insight into each community, leading to greater kingdom
effectiveness as a church and within the lives of our individual members. We hoped this
information, coupled with community connections, would give us insight into greater
gospel opportunity, inform mercy ministry outreach, and empower church planting
efforts within the city.
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HISTORY OF ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
Hoyt Lovelace planted ICC on Mud Island in Downtown Memphis in 2003. ICC was
planted to meet a need in a new community where no church existed. All of the land on
Mud Island was privately owned, which prevented a church building development. In
2004, the church moved to Maria Montessori School. ICC moved again in 2011 off Mud
Island into nearby Downtown.
Barrett Bowden became the lead pastor in 2011. In 2013, under his leadership, the church
moved into its current facility and community on North Parkway in a unique opportunity
orchestrated by God in partnership with St. Jude/ ALSAC.
Being a city center church has provided exciting opportunities to embrace ministry that
reaches a transient people. Throughout the last 20 years, our church has had opportunity
to impact the lives of thousands. We cherish the opportunity to reach the unreached,
disciple and equip, and send leaders throughout our country and around the world.
As ICC has grown, so has the diversity of our church family. We've seen the ministry
continue to expand to empty nesters, families, young professionals, and students from
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Southern College of Optometry, and The
University of Memphis.
We're excited that over the last 10 years, God has called our church into increasing
effectiveness across the many diverse communities of our city, including firmer roots in
the neighborhoods around our current facility. The church has also continued to solidify
its commitment to planting healthy churches, sending out global missionaries, and
growing in diverse membership that represent our many communities.
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MUD ISLAND COMMUNITY
N E I G H B O R H O O D S N A P S H O T
Mud Island is a peninsula adjacent to Downtown
Memphis with boundaries of Mud Island Road,
Grand Island Drive, Front Street, part of North
Second Street, and Island Drive. This community is
neighbored by the Uptown and Pinch Districts.
Mud Island is home to a diverse collection of
individuals, including longer term residents who
reside primarily in Harbor Town, transient residents
such as professional students, St. Jude and other
hospital employees, and many internationals.
“Known for its scenic parks, luxurious homes,
apartments, and walkable shops and eateries, the
Mud Island community brings out the best in
Memphis style and charisma. Developed by Henry
Turley Company in 1989, the community was one
of the first to venture into the new urbanism
movement, essentially, a community designed for
human interaction. Single family homes and
apartments were built around a live, work, and
play center that includes a school, a grocery store,
a salon, a gym, several restaurants, and parks."
(Community Redevelopment Agency, n.d., para. 3)
Mud Island is the community that Island
Community Church was planted to reach.
H I S T O R Y O F M U D I S L A N D
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At the beginning of the 20th century, Mud Island was
nothing more than a sandbar that was frequently
underwater. In the 1910s, the USS Amphitrite was
rumored to have run aground at the sandbar
resulting in even more deposition of matter on the
emerging land mass. Though the ship was loosed
two years later, the land continued to build up. It had
been called “City Island,” but the name “Mud Island” –
by the US Army Corps of Engineers and Mississippi
River Flood Commission – prevailed.

During the mid-20th century, farming squatters would live on the land and eventually be
evicted. For a time, city planners considered creating the first park for Black people on
the land, but Mayor E.H. Crump did not want such a park within city limits. The island
used to have an airstrip in the 1950s called Memphis Downtown Airport. In 1960, the
north end of the island was dammed up (North Mud Island Road travels over it today),
thus forming a peninsula rather than an island. In 1965, Mud Island was annexed into the
city of Memphis. The construction of the I-40 Hernando DeSoto Bridge, which went
directly over the airstrip, resulted in the deposition of tons of earth matter onto Mud
Island causing the land to rise an additional 20 feet over the floodplain. This opened the
possibility to build permanent buildings on the land.
Mud Island River Park opened July 4, 1982. That same year, a proposal was submitted to
the city to build an office park (replete with two 37-story buildings), sports complex, and
apartments on the island. This initial plan ultimately did not materialize. This plan
envisioned building a bridge to the island, as well as carrying part of I-40 over the island.
The lack of easy access to the island from Downtown was a major impediment to
development on Mud Island. In 1988, Riverset Apartments began construction as the first
modern building project on the island. At that time, there was still discussion of a
possible highway being built over part of Mud Island. Construction began on Harbor
Town in 1989, and the Maria Montessori School opened in 1992. The next development
was the Island Crest community, then subsequent apartment complexes and homes
along Island Place.
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D E M O G R A P H I C I N S I G H T S
Mud Island has a higher concentration of adults between the ages of 25-44 than
similar communities throughout Memphis
45% of Mud Island residents are between ages of 25-44
Mud Island is 62% White, compared to 26% White throughout the rest of Memphis
Mud Island residents represent primarily one-person family homes
Mud Island residents represent significantly higher income than the average Memphis
household income
The median household income of Mud Island residents is 1.5-2x the median
household income of other Memphis communities.
The average household income for White residents is $98,000/yr and Black
residents is $45,000/yr representing similar trends of economic disparity among
other Memphis communities
A staggering 80% of the population over 25 years old have a degree greater than high
school and 19% are enrolled in a graduate school program.
The international population on Mud Island (12%) is 3x higher than Memphis as a
whole
I C C C O M P A R E D T O M U D I S L A N D
Island Community Church reflects the age demographics of the Mud Island community
with comparable percentages of students, professionals, young families, and empty
nesters. The current racial composition of ICC is predominantly White with a smaller
proportion of members of varying ethnicities, again representing comparable
percentages to Mud Island. One point of demographic deviation between ICC and Mud
Island residents are with internationals – the international population represents about
12% of Mud Island residents and only around 5% of ICC attenders. The church generally
reflects the socioeconomic and educational status of Mud Island. The Harbortown
neighborhood represents the smallest proportion of ICC members on Mud Island and the
greatest opportunity to reach long-term residents.
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N E I G H B O R H O O D O B S E R V A T I O N S
Mud Island has the feeling of being removed from Downtown Memphis.
Mud Island residents know very little about the other neighborhoods of the city. Many
residents live on the island to be near Downtown without the feeling of living
downtown. This includes limited interaction with homelessness, crime, and parking
challenges.
The community is full of organizational leaders and city influencers.
Primary vocations of Mud Island residents fall into three sectors – business & corporate
jobs, medical & health professional jobs, and hospitality jobs. Business/corporate
employees include those in sales, banking, engineering, pilots, and similar jobs. There is
a large population of medical and medical-adjacent professionals, including medical
students or health science related graduate students. Hospitality includes individuals
working in several roles such as restaurants, building management, and property
development.
Many residents spend time outside of their homes.
There is generally lots of outdoor activity. The park on Mud Island brings people from
both homes and apartments on Mud Island as well as people from around the city who
do not live on Mud Island but appreciate the safe and clean outdoor space.
Cordelia’s Market is one of the most loved institutions and connecting points for residents.
This grocery and community hub is the primary place where residents purchase
groceries as other grocery stores are around 15 minutes away from Mud Island.
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N E I G H B O R H O O D O B S E R V A T I O N S ( C O N T ' D )
There are several small businesses on Mud Island that cater to the residents living close by.
Restaurants popular to Mud Island residents include Tugs, local food trucks, and
Paulette’s.
The Nail Bar, Harbor of Health, Higginbotham Dental, and Mud Island Dry Cleaners
service residents' day to day health and lifestyle needs.
Most families with children on Mud Island have children under 10 years of age.
Many families live in multi- and single-family homes on Mud Island. Our Community
Observation Team saw mostly families with children younger than 10-13. There are a
large number of families with younger children, many utilizing the Montessori school
and the Foreign Language Immersion Childcare Center. Families also utilize Downtown
Elementary School, other charter schools, or private schools.
Additional observations:
While neighborhood associations are not open to outsiders, residents are not unwilling
to be friendly or communicate.
The Mud Island neighborhoods and apartment complexes are very well maintained.
There is a decent amount of car and foot traffic on the southern portion of the island,
representing a mixture of residents and non-residents, that can get especially busy on
the weekends.
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Churches and Spiritual Life
There are currently no churches on Mud Island. Island
Community Church, Downtown Church, First United Methodist,
Calvary Episcopal, Pioneer Church, and St. Peters are the
closest in proximity to Mud Island, but all likely require a car to
attend.
Mud Island is filled with mainly highly educated and hardworking
individuals. It appears that church or spiritual
relationships are not a priority among the residents as most identify as atheist or
agnostic. This appearance does not preclude residents from having spiritual needs, but
they may not have the space or language to express those needs. Mud Island residents
expressed desire to have more or deeper relationships with family, friends, and those
they live within close proximity to.
Neighborhood Survey Findings
Mud Island residents generally enjoy living near Memphis but not feeling like they live
in Memphis. Residents noted enjoying nature, feeling safe, and proximity to small
communities as reasons for Mud Island feeling unique to Memphis proper.
Mud Island residents interviewed indicated a desire to deepen the community by
connecting with neighbors. Similarly, residents noted that the church could take a
role in addressing the lack of close community of residents on Mud Island.
Residents acknowledged that people’s physical needs on Mud Island are generally
met, but the needs seem to be more emotional and spiritual as people largely keep to
themselves.
Community and Cultural Tensions
The Mud Island neighborhoods seem to be homogenous and not have many community
problems beyond lost pets and potholes. The apartments tend to be more diverse with
people from all over the world. The residents are generally individualistic and keep to
themselves. Occasionally, the Homeowners Associations activity creates transient
disgruntlement with some Harbor Town residents.
Community Wants, Needs and Dreams
The primary hope for the Mud Island community is simple: to build strong community
ties. For the people living on Mud Island, there is the desire for residents to use shared
spaces and resources as a path to connect more with one another. Additionally, Mud
Island has the opportunity to utilize its own assets to help the economic and educational
disparity in the surrounding neighborhoods.
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C A L L T O A C T I O N
We believe these are the primary Actionable Insights we can help address:
There is an opportunity for partnership and connection between Mud Island
and our church including with businesses and schools.
Residents are lonely, and this needs to be recognized.
Our church should pursue an emphasis on relational stewardship and
genuine relationships rather than more programming, specifically more
intentionality for people new to the community and people on the fringes.
Additional Insights to help build relationships with our neighbors:
Mud Island gives off a closed off (insider vs. outsider) vibe, but there is a
desire for connection between residents.
There is a great spiritual and relational need, but this can often go
unidentified by residents.
The international population of Mud Island is unique in that it is slightly
larger than the rest of the city of Memphis. 12% of Mud Island residents are
internationals.
There appears to have been a "withdrawn-ness" among community leaders
It is important that we ponder this question:
How do we connect with the residents and visitors on Mud Island?
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UPTOWN COMMUNITY
N E I G H B O R H O O D S N A P S H O T
Uptown is a community in Memphis comprising North Memphis and the neighborhoods
historically known as Greenlaw and the Pinch District. Uptown is bordered by Chelsea
Avenue, A.W. Willis Avenue, Danny Thomas Street, and Front Street. The neighborhoods
surrounding Uptown include Mud Island and Downtown to the South, Frayser to the
North, and Midtown to the East. The community is composed of long-term community
residents, emerging professionals, and lower-income residents living under public
housing or subsidized statuses. The population of Uptown is primarily Black, but is
becoming more diverse each year, as the up and coming community attracts residents
from different socioeconomic statuses, backgrounds, and ethnicities.
H I S T O R Y O F U P T O W N
In 1843, the U.S. Navy built a depot on the Mississippi River near current day A.W. Willis
Street, which attracted development in the area. In 1849, brothers Oliver and William
Greenlaw began buying land along with investors. Eventually, the Greenlaw addition to
Memphis was built. Many businesses were Black-owned and operated and led to the
development of a Black middle class. At one time, Uptown was a place of notable racial
and socioeconomic diversity. When a large number of starving Irish Catholics began
immigrating to the area, these new residents were malnourished with “pinched”
stomachs leading to the area mockingly being dubbed “The Pinch District.”
Large floods to the area in 1912 and 1937 led to many upper class residents moving away
and more working class and lower income families moving in. With the loss of its upper
class residents, the Uptown community also lost its political pull. This loss of economic
and political input resulted in a decline in the area. The decline was further exacerbated
by white flight and redlining in the mid-1900s. The area would experience a period of
high crime and poverty in the 1980s and 1990s.
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For around 50 years, the 100 blocks in the Greenlaw community was left behind by
developers in the city. To see a snapshot of what Hurt Village and the Greenlaw
community was like before the Hope VI federal grant, you can watch the movie The
Blind Side. Michael Oher, the movie's protagonist, was originally from Hurt Village.
After hearing how much Harbor Town and Mud Island residents enjoyed their
remodel, Henry Turley, one of the main developers, asked himself the question,
“Can we apply the same development pattern to lower income neighborhoods
with similar, positive results?"
In the late 1990s, the Memphis Housing Authority with the City of Memphis
received a Hope VI federal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development to tear down and redevelop Hurt Village and Lauderdale Courts
areas. This redevelopment aimed at restoring the community without
gentrification or the displacing of current residents. While some residents were
weary of developers in the early stages of Uptown’s redevelopment, they attained a
new sense of pride in their community. Residents also became more empowered
homeowners. Condemned homes and vacant lots were cleared while mixed
income apartments were built. The apartments were equally split between public
housing, subsidized housing, and market rate housing. During this revitalization,
the name “Uptown” was adopted instead of “Greenlaw.”
D E M O G R A P H I C I N S I G H T S
30% of Uptown residents are between ages of 45-64
Uptown is 81% Black. The Black population of Uptown is comparatively larger than
the 64% ratio of Black residents in the city as a whole
Around 75% of Uptown residents rent and do not own their homes
Around 25% of residents receive Social Security or some form of public assistance
Many households have 1 or no vehicle. Residents rely on carpooling, public transit, or
rideshare services
Most residents of Uptown work in administration and office support
23% of Uptown residents have a college degree
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I C C C O M P A R E D T O U P T O W N
The demographics of Island Community Church do not currently reflect the
demographics of the Uptown community racially, socioeconomically, and educationally.
ICC does not have a proportionately equivalent number of Uptown residents within its
membership in comparison to Mud Island and Midtown. Uptown is predominantly Black
and has a larger proportion of older adults and children than that of ICC. Additionally,
nearly half of Uptown residents are one person households. One area of notable similarity
between Uptown and ICC is that many community members rent rather than own their
living spaces. The former Hurt Village, as seen in the movie The Blind Side, is directly
across the street from Island Community Church.
N E I G H B O R H O O D O B S E R V A T I O N S
Visually, Uptown homes look similar to homes in Harbor Town and Mud Island.
Uptown is an up and coming area.
There are a few completely empty houses, but they are well-maintained.
The people are warm and generally receive others kindly.
While some expressed little community engagement, there seems to be familiarity
between neighbors.
Children of all ages are seen in the neighborhood.
There is increasing concern for safety the further north you live in the neighborhood.
City investment and federal grants are creating higher demand residences in Uptown.
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Churches and Spiritual Life
A number of churches are located in the Uptown area. They
include New True Vine Missionary Baptist Church, Centennial
Baptist Church, Holy Community Church, United Methodist
Center, Bible Way Holiness Church, Friendship Church of the
Nazarene, Tuckers Temple Church of God, Christian Unity Baptist
Church, First Baptist Church of Chelsea, St. Stephen Missionary
Baptist, and Grace Church. Many of these churches are small
with active membership of less than 100 people. There does not seem to be a sense that
the Church has an active and loving relationship to the Uptown residents we spoke with;
however, the churches in Uptown love their community. There does not seem to be much
movement among neighbors on Sundays. A few people are connected to neighborhood
churches, but many people are disconnected.
Neighborhood Survey Findings
Residents in Uptown enjoy the quietness, location, and renovation of the neighborhood.
Uptown residents would like to see changes in various facets of their community
including community infrastructure such as grocery stores, bus stops, and community
organizations. They would also like to see changes in crime and security.
The primary concerns with how a church could make a difference in the community
include providing resources for the youth and cultivating close community ties.
Community and Cultural Tensions
The community seems to have lost its identity when the old public housing was removed
and the new houses were built. For some long-term residents in the neighborhood, it feels as
if they are waiting for their community to be taken away in the name of progress. With
construction all around the neighborhood, it remains to be seen if it will stay a community
with mixed socio-economic statuses, backgrounds, and ethnicities. There is the potential for
new residents to replace the existing demographics as the developments to the north and
west progress, along with St. Jude's expanding footprint.
There are several other social issues causing tension within the community. Crime remains a
problem as with much of Memphis. Some residents feel safe on their streets, but many
mentioned 7th Street having issues with gangs. There is also a large concern about lack of
resources for youth in the area. The closing of MAM may leave a vacuum for youth in the
community. Homelessness remains a problem in Uptown. There is also a lack of community
and connectedness in the neighborhood. Most people keep to themselves and know few
people around them.
Community Wants, Needs, Dreams
The community hopes to provide young people employment and opportunities within the
neighborhood as a way out of the cycle of poverty and gangs.
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C A L L T O A C T I O N
We believe these are the primary Actionable Insights we can help address:
Many homes have been refurbished by the CRA. Uptown is an up and
coming community because of the presence of developers. What role can
we play in the continued development of Uptown?
Reaching kids when they are young is critical to turn the trajectory of
generational poverty. What would a thriving children's ministry look like in
Uptown?
We have the opportunity to connect with other churches and pastors who
are investing in the community and youth successfully
Additional Insights to help build relationships with our neighbors:
Uptown isn’t as “scary” or unsafe as their reputation leads people to
believe.
There is a great need for youth outreach. This is a great opportunity for
life-on-life relationships.
People are open to conversations and extend warm invitations to come
inside homes.
Many tensions are at play about the future of the Uptown community.
It is important that we ponder this question:
How can we educate ourselves and learn how to be community
advocates for those living in Uptown?
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MIDTOWN COMMUNITY
N E I G H B O R H O O D S N A P S H O T
Midtown is a community located within the boundaries of Jackson Avenue, Lamar
Avenue, Airways Boulevard, East Parkway, Trezevant Street, and I-69. Midtown is
neighbored by Binghamton and part of Orange Mount to the East; Orange Mound,
Glenview, and Annesdale to the South; and the Medical District and Uptown to the West.
Generally, Midtowners are known to be eco-conscious, music and art loving, generally
left-leaning, and loyal to their community.
H I S T O R Y O F M I D T O W N
In 1899, the city of Memphis expanded by annexing to Cooper Street. This happened
again in 1909 by annexing to East Parkway. Additionally, both Central Gardens – which
was in the community of Lennox – and the Evergreen neighborhood were incorporated
into the city of Memphis. Midtown was like the city’s “original suburbs”--built to be a
prestigious neighborhood outside of the city center. Post World War II, many of the large
properties were divided into duplexes as the volume of people able to afford the
impressive properties could not meet the volume of such properties.
In the 1950s, developers were interested in routing Interstate 40 through Overton Park.
The citizens formed the Citizens to Preserve Overton Park Inc., which took the case to the
US Supreme Court. The residents of Overton Park won in Citizens to Preserve Overton
Park v. Volpe in 1971. By the time the decision was announced, several houses had already
been demolished as builders had begun to prepare the area for interstate highway
construction.
As Memphians increasingly moved east by 1970, Midtown crime increased, property
values decreased, and the area garnered a reputation of urban decline.
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In the 1970s, however, Midtown began to revitalize. The founding of the Cooper-Young
Community Association in 1975 assisted in this transformation by renovating old homes
and lobbying for ordinances to prevent absentee ownership. Ultimately, the events
surrounding the I-40 decision spawned the formation of powerful, historic district
associations that hold great sway to this day.
D E M O G R A P H I C I N S I G H T S
One-third of Midtown residents are young adults between the ages 25-44
The Midtown population is 66% White, 23% Black, and 4% Hispanic
Over half of residents are single-person households which is well above city and
national averages
Income levels of Midtown residents reflect city averages
There are significantly lower rates of SNAP assistance and persons living below the
poverty line in the Midtown community
Midtown is a well-educated area of the city. At least half of all midtown residents have
attained higher education
Midtown is a creative and arts hub for the city of Memphis
I C C C O M P A R E D T O M I D T O W N
ICC shares similarities to the Midtown community, though Midtown still has some
characteristics that distinguish it from the general church makeup. Both have a highly
educated population and notable amounts of collegiate students, while Midtown as a
whole has a larger Black representation and is more progressive leaning in ideology. Both
ICC and Midtowners have a disposition towards community engagement and
improvement, seeking causes and partnerships that foster restoration and build up the
marginalized of society. A commonality of heart for service and neighborhood well-being
exists between our church and Midtown, which lends itself towards bridge building even
in the presence of diverging ideologies and spiritual states.
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N E I G H B O R H O O D O B S E R V A T I O N S
Midtown as a whole is diverse (racially and socio-economically), but the pockets
of the individual neighborhoods that compose it are not very diverse.
While Midtown seems to be most attractive to younger populations, in the
historic Midtown neighborhoods like Central Gardens and Evergreen there is a
larger middle-aged population.
Midtown is full of restaurants, nightlife, parks, and shopping which attract and
support the diversity of the community.
Midtown is a community proud of their uniqueness. "Midtown is Memphis."
Midtown is a tolerant and accepting community. There is a wide range of
lifestyles, beliefs, and practices present in the area.
Midtown is the kind of place the garners strong reactions - you either love it or
you don't.
There are many schools in Midtown ranging from private schools (both religious
and non-religions), Memphis and Shelby County schools, and charter schools.
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Churches and Spiritual Life
There are a large number of churches located in the
Midtown community. These churches represent a number
of denominations. Churches in Midtown include Mosaic
Church, Open Door Bible Church, Trinity United Methodist
Church, First Congregational, Lindenwood Christian, Union
Avenue Baptist, Sacred Heart Church, Healing a Generation
Church, Bluff City Church, Divine Temple of God, Memphis
Tabernacle, Apostolic Church, Iglesia Amistad Cristiana, and
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception.
Midtown could be categorized as a spiritually open-minded community. Midtown is
very spiritually diverse, offering many options for worship. Many of these churches or
religious centers have been in operation for decades in Memphis. Biblical Christianity
is on the decline within many churches and most people have developed the attitude
that what one believes shouldn’t matter to anyone else. Should someone wish to
engage in spiritual activities, it does seem that there should be a place for anyone’s
given individual lifestyle preferences.
Neighborhood Survey Findings
Midtown residents generally enjoy the location, neighbors, and diversity of Midtown.
Crime, homelessness, and affordable housing are noted concerns of Midtown
residents, although there were many surveyed who did not state any concerns with
living in Midtown.
Community care, outreach, and help for the homeless are areas where residents
stated the church could make a difference.
Community and Cultural Tensions
Most of the community tensions in Midtown form out of fears around crime and
homelessness. There is a real tension among residents around being open to providing
care and housing solutions for the homeless community and the personal safety of
residents.
As Midtown has continued to grow and develop, housing prices and the cost of rent is
pricing out many residents, especially those involved in the arts and service industries,
both which are crucial to supporting the unique culture of Midtown. There's also concern
for the racial tensions of the city. The activist mentality among midtown lends toward
active involvement in resolving oppression in its various forms.
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C A L L T O A C T I O N
We believe these are the primary Actionable Insights we can help address:
Midtown residents want to be involved. Are there community activities
and service opportunities we can coordinate and invite the
community to join in?
Midtown is eclectic yet stable, and residents take a lot of ownership in
their community. This means creativity will be needed as we engage in
ongoing relationships. Many individuals will likely not see their need
for the gospel.
Yet, Midtowners are open to inclusive spiritual experiences. In the
same way Paul sought to find things in common with those in Athens
(Acts 17), we should seek to find commonality as we share the love and
truth of Christ, through the gospel.
Additional Insights to help build relationships with our neighbors:
There are few churches per capita related to population. How can we
become the church everyone sees as the church who is actively caring for
their community?
Midtown has a lot of interaction across cultures and races due to the
community's walkable access to diverse restaurants, shopping,
entertainment, and parks. When out in the community, do we see
ourselves as representatives of God's Kingdom?
Proximity to entertainment and local cultural activities help shape a
Midtowner’s identity and community.
It is important that we ponder this question:
How can we express true love to our neighbors in such a diverse
(spiritually and culturally) community while not compromising our
faith?
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SOUTH MAIN COMMUNITY
A note on our engagement within the South Main Community
We were able to take preliminary steps to obtain a brief overview of the South Main
community, including demographic information and some community observations.
However, we will take a deeper dive into the opportunities of the South Main
community once we have more church members residing within this neighborhood.
Residents are essential to establishing deeper relationships with community leaders
and help provide inroads into the unique ministry opportunities to this community.
We hope to make these exploratory connections during 2023.
N E I G H B O R H O O D S N A P S H O T
The community of South Main lies within the boundaries of Dr. MLK Jr Avenue to the
North, South Carolina Avenue to the South, Second Street to the East, and Riverside Drive
to the West. It is neighbored by Downtown to the north and other industrial areas.
Today, more than 3,500 people live in South Main drawn to the neighborhood’s charm,
walkability, and proximity to Downtown amenities. It’s home to dozens of shops,
restaurants, and creative organizations which are locally owned and operated. South
Main has kept true to its origins by being a neighborhood built by those committed to
the community.
H I S T O R Y O F S O U T H M A I N
Until 1850, what is now South Main was actually a separate city from Memphis called the City
of South Memphis. South Memphis was the residential suburb of Memphis and remained
that way until the early 1900s when the railroad stations were built.
Because of Memphis’ geographical location in the country, it was an ideal city to become the
center for railroad traffic. As a result, South Main began to transform from a residential
neighborhood into a business center to support the booming railroad traffic. Manufacturing 21
and distribution warehouses were also drawn to South Main to be near railroads.

By the 1950s, the railroad industry was beginning to
crumble and with it supporting businesses – fewer stops
in Memphis meant fewer customers. At the same time,
manufacturing began migrating east to industrial parks,
leaving many large warehouses vacant and falling into
disrepair. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at
the Lorraine Hotel in 1968 and the ensuing riots were the
final blow for South Main. After that, the area was
essentially abandoned and neglected for 20 years.
Ironically, South Main was saved because of its
abandonment: its architectural gems were kept intact
because no developers were interested in the area. As a
result, the buildings in South Main look much like they
did in the early 1900s.
South Main’s renaissance truly began in 1982 when
Robert McGowan and Annie Mahaffey bought 418 South
Main Street as their home and art studio. Other artists
soon followed. Robert lobbied the city for much-needed
infrastructure and code enforcement to preserve the
historic buildings. More awareness of the neighborhood
came with the openings of major anchors like the
National Civil Rights Museum in 1991 and the
establishment of the Trolley Line in 1993.
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4

D E M O G R A P H I C I N S I G H T S
54% of South Main residents are between the ages of 25-44
The South Main community population is 66% White, 25% Black, and 3% Asian
62% of residents are single-person households and live alone
The average income of the Black residents of the South Main community is 2x the
average income of Black residents in the rest of the City of Memphis
The South Main community is a well-educated area of the city with 77% of residents
holding at least a college degree
Occupations in business, finance, legal, and entertainment are the predominant
career paths of residents
New construction is providing avenues of growth in this developing residential
community
I C C C O M P A R E D T O S O U T H M A I N
Island Community Church and the South Main Community are composed mainly of welleducated,
socioeconomically stable, working young adults. However, South Main
residents, on average, represent greater financial wealth and Black representation than
ICC. Furthermore, the demographics of ICC represent a higher percentage of families
with children and fewer single-person households than the South Main community. In
general, South Main’s demographic, educational, and socioeconomic profiles provide a
solid foundation for future opportunity and outreach because of the ease of assimilation.
4
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N E I G H B O R H O O D O B S E R V A T I O N S
South Main has a rich commercial life. Many
businesses have opened in the past decade. Local
businesses located in the South Main community
include Southpoint Grocery Store, the South Main
Arts District, 387 Stock & Belle, 901 Health and
Wellness Clinic, 901 Real Estate Services, The
Arcade Historic Restaurant, Arrive Hotel Memphis,
The Blues Foundation, Catherine & Mary’s
Restaurant, EZR Rental Management, Feelin’
Memphis Shops, Guaranty Bank, Wiseacre
Brewing, The Memphis Farmers Market, and Loflin
Yard.
South Main has a number of government and
political entities located within the neighborhood.
These are the Tennessee Department of Human
Services, the DCS Shelby County Regional Office,
and the National Civil Rights Museum.
Three churches are located within the boundaries
of South Main – Downtown Church, Church of the
River, and The Life Church Downtown.
Wiseacre Brewing and Old Dominick Distillery are
two industrial establishments within South Main.
Multi-family housing in condos and apartment
buildings is common throughout the South Main
area. There is also single-family housing in the
South Bluffs neighborhood.
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There are a number of bars, restaurants, and coffee
shops throughout the South Main District that
many locals frequent. These include Bar Hustle,
Longshot, The Green Beetle, Eight & Sand, Slider
Inn, SOB Downtown, Earnestine & Hazel’s, Vice &
Virtue, Bluff City Coffee, Mr. Beans Coffee, and
Hustle & Dough. The South Main Community
Association is also a point of community
connection.

R E F E R E N C E S
Community Redevelopment Agency, "Uptown TIF District
Neighborhood Profiles", Harbor Town/ Mud Island,
https://cramemphis.org/uptown-tif/#1625147945026-c23ff219-ce8b
Henry Turley Company, "Our Work", Uptown,
https://www.henryturley.com/work/uptown/
South Main Association, "South Main: The District",
https://www.gosouthmain.com/history
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ISLAND COMMUNITY CHURCH
721 North Parkway
Memphis, TN 38105
(901) 300-0422
ICCMemphis.com

W H A T I S M Y N E X T S T E P I N B R I N G I N G
H E L P A N D H O P E T O O U R C I T Y ?
L E A R N I N G A T I C C : W O R K S H O P S & C L A S S E S
Our workshops and classes are learning environments that resource attendees
with skills to engage with our culture, share their faith, and experience
community with other like-minded believers. Current workshops include:
Sharing Your Faith
This workshop occurs 3 times a year.
The goal is to help believers articulate the gospel, practice sharing the gospel,
and pray for non-Christians.
Apologetics in the City
This workshop helps believers give a defense for cultural issues and
worldviews they encounter within our culture.
This workshop is offered once in May each year.
Book Studies On Current Social Issues
These workshops provide a space for seekers, believers, and non-believers to
discuss different cultural issues and/or book studies together.
These workshops are offered as needed.
The 5 Capitals
This workshop uniquely aids believers in identifying the felt needs of every
type of community, from the seemingly impoverished to the apparently
affluent communities whose needs may not be as obvious. These include
spiritual (a broken relationship with God), relational (lack of healthy
relationships and community), physical (lack of healthy rhythms and access
to healthy food), intellectual (high concentrations of mental health issues like
anxiety and depression) and financial (lack of a livable wage and resources for
living) capitals.
This workshop is offered once a year for those with a particular interest in
local ministry and missional living.
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D I S C O V E R R H Y T H M S O F B E I N G A N D D O I N G
P E R S O N A L L O C A L M I N I S T R Y
We empower individual members to use their gifts, talents, and abilities to live on
mission within the city where they live, work, and play. While we recognize that
every believer is called to be a witness (Acts 1:8), we also know that God has
chosen each believer in Christ to bear fruit in His name (John 15:16). We help each
believer steward the gospel within their sphere of influence and enter into
unique opportunities of service within the community.
B E I N G
Christ is our motivation and the source of our empowerment. Before we do
anything of lasting value for God, we must abide in Him (John 15:4-5). As we
navigate through our daily lives, we recognize that we live, move, and have our
being in Him (Acts 17:28). Knowing whose we are prevents us from striving or
seeking to produce fruit that will not last. Being safe and secure in Christ, we
operate and bring the gospel into our community from a position of peace with
God (Romans 1:7).
D O I N G
As we live within our God-given identity, we make Him known. Everything we do
becomes a sacrifice to Him, including our work, our meal times, and our play.
Work- We recognize that every earthly boss is subject to a higher authority. We
do all of our work to please the Lord, not men. We build relationships with our
coworkers to make Christ known (Col. 3:23).
Live- We dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. We are faithful to God no
matter where we live. We shine as beacons of light towards God for those around
us (Ps. 37:3).
Play- We live strategically. We leverage our hobbies and habits so as to outwardly
position ourselves to share the gospel with those around us. Whether we eat or
drink, we do it all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).
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G R O U P L O C A L M I N I S T R Y
We encourage ICC community groups and individuals united around a specific
ministry cause to engage in regular rhythms of service throughout our city.
Groups are facilitated by leaders in the church or are an organized group of ICC
volunteers committed to serve a specific partner.
B E I N G
Groups commit to check in with one another at least twice a month to pray
for one another and their group's focused ministry needs.
Individuals within groups commit to being growing disciples and to sharing
what they are learning in God’s Word and as they serve in Local Ministry
together.
D O I N G
Groups serve regularly at a set time and place for the good of the community
and the furtherance of the gospel.
Groups unite to use their individual giftings to the glory of God on dynamic
teams.
Group Local Ministry can form out of natural rhythms of community or be
facilitated by the church and passionate leaders who organize new groups for
the purpose of ministry.
Examples of Group Local Ministry include:
A community group who seeks to serve the neighborhood in which they
meet by providing a monthly neighborhood gathering around safety. Utilizing
this access point, the group members are able to deepen relationships with
their neighbors, genuinely serve a community need, and bridge relational
opportunities into spiritual conversations around peace that they have found
in God even when they lack safety.
A group is organized by a passionate leader to serve in regular rhythms with
one of our community partners. These groups form out of the diversity of the
church towards a specific cause.
Groups can form to move toward a currently unrecognized community need.
As God brings together people with unique passions for ministry, they can
form groups to begin serving with a specific community emphasis.
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C H U R C H - W I D E L O C A L M I N I S T R Y
We have quarterly opportunities to expose a broad swath of the community to
our church. Our goal is to do a general outreach that meets felt needs within the
city in order to have regular touch points for non-Christians. We also strive to
model how to be good neighbors to our city. We seek the welfare of our city
through broad sowing opportunities together as a church periodically
throughout the year.
Examples of these “broad sowing” opportunities include:
St. Jude Marathon
The St. Jude Marathon provides an opportunity for ICC to encourage marathon
runners and raise awareness for families whose children experience pediatric
cancer care. This yearly event occurs the first Saturday of December.
Community Fall Fest
The Community Fall Fest blesses our surrounding communities and partners by
providing a space for connections. This yearly event occurs during the last
Saturday of October.
Shelby County School Events
We engage in city-wide initiatives that affect educators and students within our
city. Shelby County Schools provides various opportunities for outreach
throughout the year, such as welcoming children back to school, providing
appropriate clothing for students in need, and participating in literacy coaching.
These events occur quarterly throughout the school year.
Community Engagement
Bi-monthly, we will enter into communities to intercede on their behalf. We also
commit to learn more about each community by taking tours and hearing from
local community members. We regularly engage with residents within each of
our four main communities.
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