Little Rock Expands Territory

- 1 Chronicles 4:10

Upon his appointment as pastor of the Little Rock A.M.E. Zion Church, Charlotte, NC, Dr. Dwayne Anthony Walker arrived at the church structure built in 1981 under the leadership of Rev. Dr. William White. It was September 2005, and the structure contained the 1,000+-seat sanctuary, an education wing, and a fellowship hall. Located in uptown Charlotte, bordered by 7th and 8th Streets and North McDowell Street. The rear church parking lot was bordered by North Myers Street, which happened to end at the African-American Museum of History and Culture, the former home of Little Rock church.

This red brick edifice was built in 1911 under Rev. Douglas, who served as the pastor of Little Rock at that time. After the congregation moved across the parking lot to the current location in 1981, the “old” Little Rock Church building was sold to the city of Charlotte and became the African-American Museum of Arts and Culture. The city used this structure until the completion of the Harvey Gantt Museum of African-American History and Culture and moved all art and artifacts to the location on Mint Street.

Dr. Walker and the Trustees of Little Rock, with the approval of the membership, negotiated with the city to buy back the 1911 structure (“old” Little Rock Church). This was accomplished, and the mortgage was burned in 2009 and became the Little Rock Cultural Center.

Shortly after this acquisition, Dr. Walker envisioned further growing the Little Rock campus while addressing the serious problem of homelessness in the city. Contiguous with the Little Rock Cultural Center was a lot owned by the city but not being used. With the support of the officers and members of Little Rock, Dr. Walker proposed the city donate that land to Little Rock to build affordable housing. After strong negotiations, the city council agreed, and the deed to the land changed hands; a developer and funding were acquired, and in April 2024, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in the courtyard of the Varick on 7th, a 105-unit apartment building (53 units designated affordable) adjacent to the Little Rock Cultural Center. The western border of Varick on 7th is N. Alexander Street.

The Little Rock campus has grown to include two additional buildings since Dr. Walker arrived as the pastor in 2005,ation has grown spiritually, numerically, and the congreg and physically as the footprint of Zion is firmly established in uptown Charlotte.
With God’s guidance, a caring heart, and the comprehensive vision of a leader, Dr. Walker has surely led God’s people to higher heights in the community, and Zion’s territory has been enlarged through “Excellence in Ministry.” To God be the Glory!