NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – Churches are the staple of Charleston, hence the nickname ‘The Holy City.’ Their steeples have withstood the test of time, but that doesn’t their seats aren’t empty.
“Most people are not relationally connected to a church,” says Brandon Bowers, lead pastor of Awaken Church. “In the Holy City, what we have to understand… that stigma is false.”
The tragedy that rocked this city on June 17, 2015 ended up bringing people from all walks of life together. On the Sunday following the Charleston Church shooting, Bowers and other leaders within the church organized a prayer vigil at Francis Marion Square. That’s where Bowers met Pastor Jermaine Watkins Sr. for the first time.
“I can’t explain it and it wasn’t scripted but in those moments I really felt like God was positioning Pastor Jermaine and his wife, Jessica, to do something special in this city,” recalls Bowers.
Watkins was called to Charleston to plant Paradox Church in North Charleston and after meeting at the prayer Vigil, Bowers agreed to have his congregation support Watkins and Paradox Church financially and spiritually.”
“After the time together, we had many times of prayer. I remember Pastor Brandon looking at me and saying ‘I wanna pray for you, because I believe you were called to this city,” said Watkins.
Paradox Church meets at Midland Ministry Park in North Charleston, opening it’s doors to any and all who seek the word of the gospel.
“We had already felt the burden to plant a church that would be intentionally multiethnic,” said Watkins. “We didn’t necessarily react to what happened a year ago but Paradox Church is a response… to see God what wants to do to bring together diversity and racial reconciliation.”
Reports say the man accused of killing nine innocent christians wanted to start a race war. Instead, he started new relationships and a dialogue for change that church plants in Charleston intend to carry out.
“It’s important to remember if you don’t love this city and love this culture, then the church is never going to happen,” says Bowers.
“Paradox Church is a church [where] we want to lift up Jesus, so that all men will be drawn to him,” said Watkins.
To learn more about Paradox Church, click here.