WECGOD II Donates $250,000 to Renovation Fund for Gethsemane M.B. Church

Oldest Church in the Fruit Belt Dates Back to 1874

Overseer/Pastor Michael Chapman of Gethsemane and St. John Baptist Church (Two Churches, Two Campuses, One Village) and his wife, Minister Ina Chapman are donating $250,000 from WECGOD II (We Educate Communities Globally on Disparities) to the renovation fund for the Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church. The plan is to restore the oldest, historical preservation site in the Fruit Belt, which Pastor Chapman said will help to “restore that community.” The $1.4 million restoration project was prepared by Clinton Brown Company Architecture, PC of Buffalo, known for its renewing of historic buildings and heritage places.

Pastor Chapman said his team will be asking local foundations to match their donation and he plans to have work begin in the spring which will include a renovation of the original sanctuary, the parsonage, kitchen, cafeteria and restoring the original pipe organ. WECGOD II had previously donated $400,000 to the project for a new roof, masonry work, a new boiler and stabilizing the building.