Inner City
Art & Cynthia Leslie serve as directors of the Huntsville Inner City Church of Christ, located on Seminole Drive in Southwest Huntsville. Their dedicated and tireless leadership touches the lives of hurting people every day, in a setting where the love of Christ is so desparately needed.
You can reach Art or Cynthia at:
HISTORY
It was 1994, and Huntsville’s Inner City was growing. Mayfair’s Youth Ministry decided to take the gospel to the Inner City community of Council Court through the medium of outside activities for children. With that beginning, the Word of God has continued to be presented not only in Council Court but also Butler Terrace, Searcy Homes, LR Patton and most recently the Brookside Housing Communities.
Throughout the year young men and women are given opportunities to participate in Bible classes, summer camps, field trips, reading enhancement programs, cookouts and various craft classes. They have had the good fortune of meeting and sharing programs, classes and personal time with young Christians from the Madison County area as well as those from Tullahoma and Kingsport, TN and also Franklin, KY. This past summer the Monrovia Church of Christ youth group conducted a �Backyard VBS� in Butler Terrace that attracted several dozen young children. This past summers LIFT program attracted over 100 different youth, kindergarten thru 5th grade, over a 3 week period of time.
Programs like LIFT benefit these young children and the individuals who participate. The opportunities are tremendous and the need is great for the continuation of the Inner City bus ministry. Every Tuesday night as our 3 buses, loaded with volunteers from the area churches, make their way to the communities we serve, children will be benefiting from those who drive, welcome and teach in this program that started more than 10 years ago. This fall, with your help and prayers we will continue and broaden the services in the Lord�s name that we offer to the Huntsville Inner City. Please continue to pray for this outreach ministry and please give as you are so moved.
BUS PROGRAM
The Bus Program remains the �bread and butter� of the ministry allowing us to establish relationships in the community. Through the children we gain access to the parents. In so doing, we reach the whole family for Christ.
SUMMER CAMP
Summer Camp is the time we focus on intense training with our mature teens for future leadership opportunities. This year we had 29 to participate.
NEIGHBORHOOD BIBLE SCHOOL
NBS focused exclusively in Butler Terrace, reestablishing contact with the families in that community. Teen missionaries did an excellent job conducting the program with over 40 children participating. They gained valuable skills which were beneficial for their campaign in Pensacola. A major goal of this ministry is to equip the brotherhood with the skills and tools necessary to do evangelism, first at home, then the community, then the world.
WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS FOR WOMEN
Each Wednesday morning is a special time for the ladies of the Inner City. Mayfair ladies join hands and hearts with these precious sisters in bible studay and prayer.
HUNTSVILLE LEARNING CENTER
Art Leslie, the founder of the Huntsville Inner City Learning Center, is making a difference in our community. His work, along with a diverse group of Huntsville volunteers, is breaking the cycle of poverty by helping keep students in school. This ministry, operated through the Inner City Church of Christ, helps students learn the skills they need to advance in school instead of dropping out. According to the HLC, the current graduation rate for all Huntsville City High School students is only about 60 percent. The national average is 68. HLC is working to break the cycle of illiteracy and help young people succeed.
LIFT
The LIFT Program surpassed everyone’s expectation, blessing the lives of everyone involved. For the children, a better understanding of God�s will, along with gained reading skills. Our campaign groups and interns gained hands-on experience in mission work. For the leadership a healthy understanding and appreciation of team work and God�s amazing grace. We averaged 75 students a day providing Bible study, classroom activity, lunch, reading program, puppets, skits and a weekly activity including skating, waterworks and a trip to Early Works and Early Works concluding with a cook-out.
CONNECT3
The Connect3 Program was started in 2006 to compliment the LIFT Program. It is for the 6th -8th grades and is the last two weeks of the LIFT Program in the Summer and we had 20 participating our first year.
STAFF
Art Leslie - Coordinating Evangelist
Kerrie Kirkland - Administrative Assistant
Kathy Linebaugh - Office Manager
Cynthia Leslie - Life Skills Counselor
April Boodie - Assistant Life Skills Counselor
Gertrude Miller - Care Center Worker
CHURCH
The establishment and growth of the church is the fruits of our labor. We are blessed with numerous baptisms to date. Our worship attendance is pushing 100 with a strong Wednesday night class. The gospel is being preached, providing hope for the lost. God is being glorified and you can be assured of a good return on your investment. We have wonderful Bible classes for all ages.