Black, white churches merge to become The Bridge

If 11 a.m. is the most segregated time in America, here's your exception

BY ALLISON KENNEDY - akennedy@ledger-enquirer.com --

During a 50-year period in the 1800s, a former slave named Horace King was the most respected bridge builder in this part of the country. His work literally covers nearly every crossing of the Chattahoochee River to Fort Gaines, including the 14th Street pedestrian bridge named for him.

He got his know-how from his former slave owner, John Godwin, a craftsman who nurtured King's skills. Their tie was so strong, King had a monument erected over his grave after his death in 1885 that declared "the love and gratitude he felt for his lost friend and former master."

The bridge symbol, and especially the one connecting Columbus and Phenix City, has found resonance with a new Columbus church that is a merger between a predominantly black church and a white one.

Fittingly, it's called The Bridge.

"When we look back, it seems seamless how it happened," said the Rev. Vince Allen, who now ministers alongside the Rev. Chris Mitchell. Allen had led New Life Church International on Midtown Drive since 1996 (in Midtown since 2000), and Mitchell's church was called Bethany Worship Center, at the same location on Second Avenue. Both were non-denominational.

Their first service together as The Bridge was Easter Sunday, followed the next week by another service featuring local singer Allen Levi, who sang a song he wrote years ago about Horace King and his bridge. This Sunday, The Bridge will be officially dedicated by local and state officials at the 10 o'clock service.

Mitchell and Allen have been friends for about 11 years. They met through a local ministers' group. They supported one another and prayed for one another. For a time, before they moved to Second Avenue, Bethany members used New Life's building for services. Then meals together led to golf games and other social events between the pastors. In the past few years, each began to wonder: "What if?" as in, "What if we could work together?" Mitchell said the idea for him became more clear last fall when he said he was directed in prayer to talk again to his friend about it. In the meantime, New Life had bought property in east Columbus, off Woodruff Farm Road.

"We offered them an opportunity to expedite the process," Mitchell said of New Life. "It went from there."

They made it official in January. Both ministers now have a combined board of 10 people, all outside the city, who advise them and approve such decisions. The sanctuary seats 475 people and so far the services have been full.