More than a decade ago, Michael and Traci Byrd moved out of a rough inner-city neighborhood of St. Louis, swearing they’d never go back.

But God called them to return and plant Faith Community Bible Church. Their mission is to care for people who feel abandoned, Michael said. The neighborhood, which is 95% African-American, has a high poverty rate, a high crime rate, and mostly single-parent homes.

By canvassing the community, the Byrds quickly found their assumptions of needs were different from reality. Building relationships over shared meals, offering group cooking lessons and even trips to the grocery store have become pathways to meeting needs and discipling new believers. And now Faith Community Bible Church has expanded to a second campus.

“All people have the same heart condition in small towns and in the big urban centers,” Michael said. “We all need the same Jesus.”

Prayer Requests

• For the Byrds to have wisdom in creatively reaching their neighbors.
• For God to open hearts to the gospel through Faith Community Bible Church