Most of American knows George Floyd only by the last few minutes of his life, recorded by cell phone camera. The city of Houston, though, is remembering Floyd for the incredible life he lived. For decades, Floyd was an active member of the Christian church, ushering ministries into the area.<\/p>\n
\u201cGeorge Floyd was a person of peace sent from the Lord that helped the gospel go forward in a place that I never lived in,\u201d said Patrick PT Ngwolo, pastor of Resurrection Houston, which held services in the Cuney Homes housing project.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe platform for us to reach that neighborhood and the hundreds of people we reached through that time and up to now was built on the backs of people like Floyd,\u201d he told Christianity Today.<\/p>\n
Floyd worked frequently in the Cuney area and spoke about breaking the cycle of violence. He mentored young men in the area as well. He used his influence to bring ministries to the community for discipleship and outreach.<\/p>\n
Ngwolo, along with other Christian leaders, met Floyd in 2010 at a benefit concert. Corey Paul Davis, a Christian hip-hop artist who attended Resurrection Houston, was one of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, \u2018I love what you\u2019re doing. The neighborhood need it, the community need it, and if y\u2019all about God\u2019s business, then that\u2019s my business…Whatever y\u2019all need, wherever y\u2019all need to go, tell \u2019em Floyd said y\u2019all good. I got y\u2019all.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Floyd offered protection as the church came into the area, and lent a helping hand as they put on services, held Bible studies, and community baptisms.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe helped push the baptism tub over, understanding that people were going to make a decision of faith and get baptized right there in the middle of the projects. He thought that was amazing,\u201d said Ronnie Lillard, who performs under the name Reconcile. \u201cThe things that he would say to young men always referenced that God trumps street culture. I think he wanted to see young men put guns down and have Jesus instead of the streets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ministry leaders have heard from community members in the Third Ward who called Floyd their brother, uncle, or even their dad because they lacked older male figures to serve as a positive influence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis faith was a heart for the Third Ward that was radically changed by the gospel, and his mission was empowering other believers to be able to come in and push that gospel forth,\u201d said Nijalon Dunn, who was baptized at Cuney. \u201cThere are things that Floyd did for us that we\u2019ll never know until the other side of eternity. There were times where we\u2019d have Church at the Bricks until 3 p.m., and by 4:30, they\u2019re firing shots right at the basketball courts.\u201d<\/p>\n
The community is remembering everything that Floyd did for them, and honoring his memory in any way they can.<\/p>\n
He\u2019ll be \u201cimmortalized in the Third Ward community forever,\u201d Lillard said. \u201cHis mural will be on the walls. Every youth and young man growing up will know George Floyd. The people who knew him personally will remember him as a positive light. Guys from the streets look to him like, \u2018Man, if he can change his life, I can change mine.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n