Storefront Churches

I began to see people in white robes who looked out of time and small buildings with unusual church names on my route to graduate school every day. I applied and received grants and began documenting. At first I spent hours in services without a camera so we might become more familiar with each other. The exception was the Nubian Islamics who had never had a white person enter their doors. I was restricted in what I could photograph and where I could go. Members of the “Brotherhood of the Cross and Star”, Nigerian immigrants, transformed from roles as taxi drivers and house cleaners to regal and faithful believers. Sister Rene from “The Church of the Perfect Gospel” and her family were simple and strict in their bible beliefs but also very loving and kind. The congregation at “The New Macedonia Church of God in Christ” wore their absolute Sunday best and displayed an intense and experiential approach to their faith. These images represent an era in Atlanta’s history that no longer exists. The majority of Atlantans have never seen or experienced this moment in time. Most of the buildings are gone and redevelopment has taken over. I do know this; what these small groups of believers lacked in architectural splendor they made up for with their faith.