Lemanuel Williams

In 2022, Lemanuel and his team launched a nonprofit organization called Building Shalom to address one of the greatest needs in the inner-city neighborhoods of Rocky Mount: housing.

Building Shalom exists to transform blighted neighborhoods into beautiful and beloved communities. In a short time, the organization has served more than 70 families through financial literacy and homebuyer programs and restored 10 homes for first-time buyers. Bible studies have also begun, with 25 regular participants. All of this work is done in Jesus’ name, with the prayer that meeting physical needs will open doors to address deeper spiritual needs and promote lasting community flourishing.

After nearly a decade of serving the physical and material needs of their neighbors in the inner-city of Rocky Mount, they recognized a growing spiritual hunger among the people they served. Alongside other churches, they felt burdened and compelled to help meet those spiritual needs as well. While human and community development are essential, they believe that true and lasting flourishing requires thriving local churches where the transforming power of the gospel changes lives from the inside out. They carry a deep desire to see the inner-city flourish and long to be part of God’s work in meeting both the physical and spiritual needs of the community. And so, the City of Shalom Church was born.

Drawing inspiration from Hebrews 11:16, their church is seeking to make citizens of heaven who seek a better city on earth – a city of shalom. Their vision is to see the power of the gospel transform a people who produce peace and prosperity (shalom) in the church and inner-city.