In These Times, Flint Residents Lean on the Everlasting Arms

By Peter Rubinstein

FLINT, Michigan—Members of Flint’s Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church entered its modest nave on the morning of Sunday, March 6, to the sight of delicately hung chandeliers strung above the white-gloved hands and warm eyes of its senior ushers as they lent hugs, laughed and welcomed newcomers.

Pastor Daniel Moore Sr. wore black and silver vestments while seated comfortably in the pulpit, quietly observing the familiar congregation of his family, friends and neighbors and swaying his right hand to the gentle words that emanated from the choir behind him.

The pain and strife brought upon by the water crisis that had defined the lives and identities of the city’s residents since 2014 were temporarily set aside, as the members of Shiloh squeezed close together to unite under the pastor’s word.

“When the community does not trust the culture or

government, the church becomes a center.”

-Professor Michael Wittmer, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

Waiting for Justice: Meanwhile, 'Fix What You Broke'

By Rachel Popa

Pamela Powell, her son Devontae Powell and brother Darrell

Spann stand with her father Otis Span whose Alzheimer's the 

family says has worsened because of the poisoned water.

   FLINT, Mich.—Flint. Vehicle City. Once a bustling city of over 200,000 people, now less than 100,000 remain. In the past, Flint, Michigan was a symbol of American prosperity. Today Flint is synonymous with neglect and decline.

In 2014, after the city of Flint started receiving its drinking water from the Flint River rather than pumping it in from Detroit in an effort to save costs, residents started reporting discoloration in their drinking water, among other problems. Flint’s water was eventually rendered undrinkable due to the high amount of lead present in the city’s supply. And still without a new water system, many here still don't trust their drinking water.

Hundreds of families have been affected by the poisonous water, including the Spann family, which has lived in Flint for over 60 years.

“I’m not going to give up.
I’m going to do what I have to do.”-Otis Spann

Voices of The Poisoned

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Faces of the Poisoned – Videos

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Charges filed in Flint water crisis