Bringing Jesus to the Southside, churches looking to show the light

A first-time, free program is looking to start a movement as churches look to bring Jesus to the Southside this Friday.

Freedom Nights, which will include a meal at 5 p.m., will begin at 6 p.m. at the Oconee Gym this Friday, June 5. AJ Wright, sending pastor at Connection Church, said about six churches came together to hold this event which is open to anyone. 

“People have lost hope,” Wright said. “The original age for this was youth. I’m open to whoever comes. If someone 80 years old comes, that will be awesome. To me, it’s open to whoever will be there. We are prepared for anyone and all ages to show up. Whoever wants to encounter the Lord, we’re prepared. We want to build connections in that community and then we want to plug them in a local body.” 

As the sending pastor, Wright is over all of the mission programs at Connection Church. He has a heart for those living in the southside but also all over the community. Before starting in the ministry, he was a sheriff’s deputy in Laurens County. 

“As a law enforcement officer, I got to see stuff a lot that people don’t usually see,” Wright said. “When you see the gang shootings and have to give death notifications, I had to do that. When I locked people up, and I went to tell their parents, they would reply, “at least they are in jail and I know they are alive” and they knew they would be taken care of. Being a police officer, you can police those communities as much as you want. Until the gospel comes into their heart, nothing is going to change. Somebody has to be bold and get out of their comfort zone and do it. It was awesome to hear others have that same burden. I think a lot did not know what needed to be done.”

People want to see a change, he added.

“They are tired of getting the statistics of murders or the gang violence,” Wright said. “If we truly want to see change, we all have to lock arm-in-arm and stop worrying about what happens inside our churches, and focus on our community and reach out. If we do that, some things are going to happen.” 

For the heart to be change, someone has to preach. Wright believes that is why God has placed him at Connection Church. He grew up playing sports at West Laurens High School before going into law enforcement. The railroad track between Connection Church and Southside Community has divided the community for a long time, Wright said.

“I’m happy our church sits here, and that’s the direction we want to go,” he said. “I believe great things are about to happen. Freedom Nights is a movement to bring the hope of Jesus to the streets. We want to see the lost saved, families restored and the communities revived through the gospel. If Jesus would have walked into Dublin, Ga., where would he do his ministry at? He’d probably in the Southside, probably be walking in Vinson Village, probably walking in Katie Dudley Apartments, probably walking down Telfair Street and probably walking on the Eastside across the bridge. That is where Jesus would be. If we don’t do anything, kids are being born and not coming to the gospel. They have no hope, and we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus.”

He said the gangs are offering a family, something he believes the church needs to offer. Wright and other members from the different churches went to Oconee Gym last week, walked around the facility and prayed.

“I want to see a gospel movement happen in these areas where nobody else wants to step into,” said Wright, knowing there has been an uptick of crime and shootings lately. “I have kids from our youth group who got shot in Vinson Village. I’ve had a the hand-to-hand experience with these kids. I’ve seen the cycle happen over and over again. Somebody has to do something about breaking that cycle and the generational sin that they are born into.” 

He hopes Freedom Night is the first of many nights of similar programs. 

“I dream of a gospel movement to happen on the Southside,” said Wright, who plans to share his testimony. “People need to see that no matter what you have done, Jesus can save anybody. I was a kid who had some darkness. I am always open about those things and I’ll share those from the stage. People need to know that you can be rescued from a dark place. I’m going to preach the gospel.”

Following worship, there will be a baptismal pool on site. There will be people there praying and ready to counsel people.

“We are ready for people to have those conversations,” Wright said. “What an awesome way to end the night with letting people hit that water.”