No Longer Divided: Merging Mega and Storefront Churches Through Collective Faith
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This paper explores the evolving dynamics between mega churches and storefront churches in urban African American communities, arguing that the perceived divide is not theological but structural—rooted in land-use enforcement, visibility politics, and resource stratification. Drawing on Marc Smith and Howard T. Welser’s Collective Action Dilemma, the study reframes this tension as a challenge of coordination and mutual recognition. Historically likened to the house and field slave dichotomy, today’s religious landscape reflects a new geography of faith—where scale, zoning, and cultural placement shape access to legitimacy and impact. Yet, as scripture reminds us, “love covers a multitude of faults” (1 Peter 4:8, New International Version). Through intentional merging and collaboration, mega and storefront churches can transcend inherited divisions and embody a collective faith that heals, uplifts, and unites.