TAMPA, Fla. — On the inside of Revive Church of Tampa, Pastor Ray Gathers led Good Friday services. On the outside, he's helped shape the community he grew up in through fun and food. 

What You Need To Know

  • Revive Church of Tampa held a community dinner on Good Friday

  • Pastor Ray Gathers says the community has evolved since he grew up in the area

"This symbolizes trust," he said. "This is everything — that they're here and they're like, 'We know this place is good.'" 

Gathers has been a pastor at the church for eight years and said he remembers some of the challenges he and others in the community faced growing up. 

"There were never any resources here," he said. "No banks, no grocery stores. If we were to go to the grocery store, we would have to go to MLK or South Tampa."

Now, Gathers said things are changing. Through events like Friday's meal, he said he and the church are working to be part of the community change.

"Now that we have resources and resources coming in, we want to make sure that the people in the neighborhood get a chance to be a part of it," he said.