FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Millions of dollars are going toward the preservation of Black churches across the country.
One of those churches is right here in the heart of Georgia.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church was awarded $50,000 by the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund through an application sent by Appleton Episcopal Ministries.
"We want to see more children and young adults," Woody Freeman said. "The only way we can do that is to continue to preserve our history."
Freeman cherishes the memories she's made at St. Luke's Episcopal Church since she was 11-years-old.
"I was baptized and confirmed here," she said.
Freeman remembers enjoying Sunday school with her friends and how fun the activities after school were.
"I remember playing in the parish hall," Freeman said.
Julie Groce says the church has a rich history and a large campus. Groce, from Appleton Episcopal Ministries, says she's helping facilitate the renovations the church needs.
"We're looking at how to preserve it in a way to use the ministry, but not just to preserve them for history's sake, but preserve them for modern use," she said.
They're hiring a restoration architect who will come in to identify the church's structural problems, what updates need to be made and hire a contractor to get the problems fixed.
Groce said they'll need to raise money after getting an estimate for the costs.
St. Luke's has served Fort Valley for generations, including students, staff and faculty at Fort Valley State.
"My mother went to that school," Freeman said. "That's the history we want to pass to each generation."
Freeman said she's been a lay reader, a choir member, a Sunday school leader, and an assistant to her priests.
Since the church's priest retired in December, Freeman said she's been the head of her congregation.
Freeman said they value faith above all else.
"I'm an avid worshipper because I'm very close to the Lord," she said.
Groce said the congregation was segregated when it was originally founded.
"St. Luke's was founded as a historically Black church that served a historically Black university in a historically Black area of Fort Valley," Groce said. "Today, people who are not Black also attend church," she continued. "We offer an open door and welcome all. Historic preservation is what it's all about!"