ALTHOUGH THEY haven’t been as active in recent months, four Northside churches are continuing their interfaith efforts to improve their community.

Representatives from St. Richard Catholic Church, Broadmeadow United Methodist, Meadowbrook Church of Christ and Redeemer Church PCA began meeting last year to brainstorm ways they could better reach out to the surrounding neighborhoods at the “Top of Fondren.”

St. Richard Pastoral Minister George Evans said the churches have participated in outreach ministries like tutoring children, but have also taken on larger causes. “We don’t have a formal group, we’re just four churches who are interested in the human needs in our neighborhoods,” he said.

Since last year, the four churches have met four or five times to discuss ideas. “The purpose is to be ready to give an appropriate Christian response when things occur,” he said. Although the churches haven’t established concrete plans, each participates in various programs.

Of the ministries, St. Richard and Redeemer tutor students at the Northside Public Library, Broadmeadow sponsors a nighttime basketball program and Meadowbrook works with families from the Stratford Manor apartments.

Charlotte Moman, assistant director of public service for the Jackson-Hinds Library System, said both St. Richard and Redeemer have been an asset to the library’s Teen Study Center.

Each day more than 40 children, many from Chastain Middle School across the street, visit Northside’s teen center after school. On Mondays and Wednesdays, St. Richard members volunteer there. Students from Jackson State University also help out students with their studies.

IN ALL, ABOUT 15 volunteer. “The students enjoy it very much,” Moman said. The study center was established at the library about four years ago. It offers young people a place to socialize and do their homework while providing a structure of respect, Moman said.

The churches also stay informed on issues that affect a larger number of people. Redeemer Church closely followed the efforts of the Hallmark Apartments on Northside Drive last year when they applied for tax credit financing to remodel the complex.

Steve Lanier, the assistant to the pastor at Redeemer, said the church attended public hearings and offered opinions on the issue. He said the church supported the efforts to revitalize the apartments because they would have a positive impact on a large number of people.

Last year, Hallmark Partners, was approved for nearly $665,000 in federal housing tax credits by the Mississippi Home Corporation.

The credits were sold to finance the project.

“We wanted to make sure that families there were treated fairly,” he said. “We were more interested in that than the renovations. We didn’t want them tossed out with nowhere to go while work went on.”