The Highlands County & Church Community Development Initiative

The Highlands County & Church Community Development Initiative

By: Rev. Frank Paul Jones - President of the NCNCHINC

Based on Highlands County Statistics there is about 51 churches in Highlands County, but I can attest that there are many more and they are going rapidly growing. The church in Highlands County, Florida is very powerful. I am a proponent of strong community churches, but not its abuses.

The church is an effective tool for reducing the drug epidemic if properly applied. However, if not addressed it can destroy the moral fiber of which the church is built upon. The church is used in black communities as a tool to oppress black's from economic independence. There is something wrong in the zoning codes in the black community. Too many churches are mere shrines. This is ungodly, in a community so desperate for help due to lack of sophistication.

Where there are a few good churches lord knows many here are simply masquerading saints of Satan out for themselves. They say they are save because they no longer openly use multiple sex partners, and not the offering of their service to God. There is more AIDS in proportion to population here in Highlands county than the number one state/district Washington D.C. And not due to shooting drugs as in DC but due to immorality. The community is in cultural shock!

But there is a church on every corner as a simple means of avoiding taxes. The black community zoning has to become more pro investment grow into economic autonomy. A Business District, Housing Development and Mecca for religious practices of all religions is the vision we have for the Development of the Southside Redevelopment Area of Avon Park, Florida. This calls for a unified approach between religion, government and most importantly the private sector. Zoning cannot simply do what seems constitutional, but must allocate zoning to have an economic growth impact.

We are in the worst recession since the great depression, we must become diverse in our operations. We must explore the non profit sector in a variety of ways. We need to keep it real and not simply start a church to clan up the posse. God is a jealous God and his wrath will come down on the enemy who attempted to infiltrate the heavens a wolf in sheep clothing. Keep it Real!

The Southside Redevelopment Area is Historical for Delaney Avenue and the state of Delaney Avenue is ungodly and oppressed by the church due to no services to the community. We at the NCNCHINC in coordination with the HCCH will bring homeless shelters, outreach and a soup kitchen into the Southside Redevelopment Area. But it cannot stop there we need other service and business establishments. We will clean up the Southside Redevelopment Area.

For this to work however, we must acquisition the Beach Front Property. I understand he cannot open the place due to the County Conflict of interest. Maybe we can do better with that property and purchase it in a buyers market and buyers circumstances. A secured Beach Front with all the old services to include a bar and package store, the beachfront must be reopened by friends of mine's and I do not think the church should interfere but should support the initiative.

If properly managed the beachfront properties as we call it, will be a place people who visit town can rent a motel. Eat, drink and be merry as the main support for the establishment will be the neighboring community. This is the vision! We will have a middle class establishment at the beachfront and a drug free Delaney Avenue that now serves the poor.

Before I close I want to address something. Governor Rick Scott of Florida sign into law a bill that will make it even harder for a lot of people. Please read:

(NEWSER) – Governor Rick Scott signed a law this week requiring Floridians to submit urine, blood, or hair samples for drug testing before they could receive any cash aid from the state. Those testing positive will be banned from receiving aid for six months, though they can secure assistance for their children by designating someone else—who must also pass a drug test—to collect the money, the Miami Herald reports.

There is going to be a lot of people, with no food to eat and no place to go in Highlands County, Florida.

Do I get an Amen?