Shepherd Community Center

Description

Shepherd Community is a faith-based, inner-city ministry that has operated on the near Eastside of Indianapolis since 1985. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty on the near Eastside of Indianapolis by engaging and empowering the community to cultivate healthy children, strong families, and vibrant neighborhoods through a Christ-centered approach that meets the physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs of our neighbors.

History

In the fall of 1984, Westside Church of the Nazarene sent a group of volunteers down to Central Nazarene Church to do a Thanksgiving meal. In February 1985, that meal blossomed into an organization, formally organizing as Central Nazarene Mission.

In just a few short years the name was changed to Shepherd Community Center. Rev. Dean Cowles became the founding director and served as such for Shepherd’s first four years. Then, Rev. John Hay, Jr. served for the next few years. Following Hay’s departure, Cowles came back and served yet another four years. After a few years of transition, Rev. Jay Height was named Executive Director in 1998 and continues to serve today.