Johnny O’Neal celebrates with members of First Centenary United Methodist Church. The church recently named its gym after O’Neal.When Johnny O’Neal was young, he used to sneak out of his neighborhood to First Centenary United Methodist Church’s after-school program.
“My mom didn’t know where I was going,” he said, explaining that he’d walk to the McCallie Avenue church from his M.L. King Boulevard neighborhood. “All that time she was thinking I was playing at the playground down the street. That went on until I was a young adult.”
Originally, O’Neal said, he started going because he liked playing basketball, but over time it turned into something more.
“It was tough in my neighborhood,” he said. “Kids just want attention. That’s what I got when I first started going up there.”
For the last 35 years, O’Neal has in turn given his attention to the kids of Chattanooga. Since 1979 he has worked with the church’s inner-city after-school program – the same one he participated in as a youth – and now currently serves as its assistant director and the facility’s manager.
The church recently honored O’Neal by naming its gym after him as a recognition of his dedication and service.
“This was a very easy decision to make,” First Centenary’s the Rev. Dr. Doug Fairbanks said. “Mr. O’Neal has given himself to the work of loving and mentoring thousands of inner-city children. We simply believe that one of the ways we can say to Johnny, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant,’ is to name the gym in his honor.”
Daily, O’Neal and his staff offer after-school programming to approximately 55 children from several schools in the area. Each day, he said staff greet the students at the door and engage them in activities designed to encourage social development, education, spirituality and physical health. Kids do their homework, read, play sports and participate in different activities led by volunteers and staff members. The program is a result of a partnership between the church and Chattanooga’s Department of Youth and Family Development, O’Neal explained.
“People come up with a lot of different programs for kids, but programs don’t change people. Relationships change people,” he said. “I feel like I was a changed person because a lot of people cared about me.”
For O’Neal, the naming of the gym is a huge honor and he said it makes him feel appreciated for his hard work. It also brings full circle one of his first memories of First Centenary.
“I remember that back then, the gym had carpet,” he said in regards to one of his first visits. “We didn’t even have carpet in my house.”
For more information about the after-school program, visit firstcentenary.com/inner-city-ministry or call the church at 756-2021.