Craig Carlisle knows firsthand the challenges of leading a church in a revitalization effort.

As the pastor of 12th Street Baptist Church, Gadsden, Carlisle led the church to purchase an empty Kmart store building in 2009 and to relocate from 12th Street in Gadsden to the Rainbow City area several miles away.

Carlisle grew up in 12th Street Baptist, then in 2008, the Etowah Baptist Association church called him as pastor. Carlisle knew then he faced a challenge. The community around the church had changed and the historic 111-year-old church was in decline.

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