A Word From the Perot Fa mily Headm aster
Our Faith Drives Change Change does not ride a bicycle. It is driven. St. Philip’s was established over 70 years ago as a parish of the Episcopal Diocese. Upon establishment, the members identified a juvenile delinquency problem in the surrounding community. Rather than ignoring the issue, the church responded with ministry and the rest is history. Today, far too many churches are “drive-in” facilitators, which effect minimal change within the communities where they reside. As a school and community center, St. Philip’s is a triple A: We are an Anchor. We are an Advocate. We are an Agent for Change to advance the neighborhood and anointed soils we choose to call home. The South Dallas/Fair Park community is in recovery. Five decades ago, legislation and growing neglect resulted in the intentional over-saturation of 373 liquor-related businesses within this four-mile area of Dallas. In fact, thirty-nine of those businesses were once within four blocks of St. Philip’s campus. This triggered a blight that literally stripped away PROGRESS, POTENTIAL, and PROMISE from South Dallas. We use the word recovery in connection with the redemptive power of FAITH. We are standing on the rock-solid faith of that small but mighty St. Philip’s parish of 70+ years ago who chose to look and serve beyond the walls of the church. Today, of the thirty-nine liquor related businesses within four blocks of our campus,
"St. Philip’s is a triple A: We are an Anchor. We are
Visiting Nurses Association, which distributes 1,100 meals a day to the homes of the elderly. There is also a free legal clinic and hot meals are served in the evenings on our campus for youth.
an Advocate. We
Change does not simply arrive. It does not
are an Agent for
embraces the privilege to pray in school and
Change..."
been the fuel that has given St. Philip’s School
ride a bicycle. It is driven. St. Philip’s firmly in our community services. Our faith has & Community Center the boldness to drive
only seven remain. In addition, twenty-seven transactional drug properties within that same radius have been shut down, along with a disreputable motel. Over the course of the last thirty years, like an antibody, faith has fueled the construction of twenty-two Habitat for Humanity houses and fifty-one housing
community change. We continue to stand with our neighbors to oppose adverse zoning petitions, along with linking vital social services and resources through thoughtful collaborations. We surrender to the acknowledgment that we are not driving. HE is
units within four blocks of our campus.
our chauffeur and pilot.
South Dallas’ recovery has included prescriptive measures. Our
Blessings,
neighborhood now has a senior citizens’ transportation program, a client-choice food pantry through the North Texas Food Bank, and a thriving Meals on Wheels program, in partnership with
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SUMMER MAGAZINE 2018
Dr. Terry J. Flowers
www.stphilips1600.org
