Our History

In July of 2000 pastors and lay members from three West End churches (English Road Baptist, First Reformed United Church of Christ--now Christ's Community-- and Rankin Memorial United Methodist) met to share their ideas for neighborhood ministry. As we shared our thoughts and visions, we realized that we could do far more working together as a coalition than we could ministering separately.

From the start, we realized that efforts to make the West End a better and safer community  would succeed only if the residents  were committed  to making it happen. In a series of neighborhood meetings, residents listed their three biggest concerns as:

1) the high crime rate in the West End,
2) the appearance of the neighborhood and
3) the lack of wholesome activities for our children and youth.

Over the past several years, under the leadership of West End Ministries and with strong support and participation of West End residents (and a lot of outside help), we have:

* Provided wholesome activities for children and youth, giving them the opportunity to break the cycle of drugs, prostitution and crime in their lives.
* Decreased the number of boarded-up and abandoned houses, as well as improved the overall appearance of the neighborhood through semiannual cleanup days and increased community pride.
* Significantly lessened drug dealing and associated crime through support of and active participation in the West End Drug Initiative.
* Promoted feelings of empowerment by West End residents, helping them to make a real difference in the quality of life in the West End.

West End Ministries was incorporated as a North Carolina nonprofit agency September 12, 2001. On February 3, 2003, we  received 501(c)(3) status  from the Internal Revenue Service.

The goal of West End Ministries is summed up in our mission statement: To work in partnership with residents and other stakeholders to make the West End of High Point a better and safer place for those who live, learn, work and worship here.