In Miami, Black churches remain vital pillars of spiritual and cultural life, but many are now navigating 21st-century challenges. Years after the COVID-19 pandemic, religious institutions continue to struggle with financial strain, aging memberships and declining attendance, particularly among younger generations. Yet some churches are adapting 鈥� launching new initiatives, embracing youth leadership and redefining their roles in a changing world.
Post-pandemic and financial struggles
Majority-Black churches were hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 34% worsened financial health from 2018 to 2023, compared to 29% and 28% of white and multiracial congregations, respectively.
As one of Miami鈥檚 oldest Black churches, has long been a cornerstone of Overtown. During the pandemic, the church adapted quickly, moving Bible study and prayer meetings to a phone line and online streaming services. It even launched a virtual youth Sunday school, "Pajamas, Pancakes, and Prayers."
But although many churches reopened by mid-2021, Saint John remained closed into 2022 due to leadership changes and shifting membership.
鈥淲e were closed longer than most congregations,鈥� explained Cecily Robinson-Duffie, board member and deaconess. 鈥淢any parishioners moved during that time. The food bank that we participated in 鈥� we have not been able to reestablish that relationship and provide those services.鈥�
In 2023, Saint John nearly lost key properties to after former Pastor James D. Adams took out nearly $2.5 million in mortgages, including for a luxury condo.
鈥淲e went from being without any debt and with cash in the bank to owing a significant amount of money,鈥� said Dr. Nelson L. Adams, a longtime member and minister.
Although the congregation raised only a fraction of the funds needed, the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA (SEOPW CRA) stepped in, purchasing the properties and allowing the church to lease them for $1 per year.
Minister Cecil A. Duffie calls the SEOPW CRA's support 鈥渋nstrumental,鈥� but emphasizes that the church鈥檚 mission never faltered.
鈥淥ur day-to-day operations, our worship, our outreach 鈥� they never stopped,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 exist just to come together on Sundays. We exist to be a starburst in the community.鈥�
Duffie also said that trust in the church remained steady in the aftermath.
鈥淧eople understood that unfavorable situations happen, but they knew that wasn鈥檛 the sum total of who we are,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not a church that鈥檚 had 20 or 30 pastors. In nearly 120 years, we鈥檝e had just a handful. That says something about our stability.鈥�
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The church has not worshiped in its original sanctuary for over a decade, but Adams remains hopeful that renovations will be completed this year. The church also plans to reopen its seven-decade-old daycare, which closed during the pandemic and never reopened. Since then, it has been allocated to the St. John Plaza building across the street.
Most recently, New Providence Missionary Baptist Church is also facing foreclosure after Pastor Steven Caldwell sold off church-owned properties without informing the congregation, as first reported by .Caldwell did not respond to multiple interview requests.
Embracing technology
Attendance at U.S. congregations has across all racial groups since before the pandemic. However, majority-Black congregations have experienced the smallest drop, maintaining stability with a combination of in-person and virtual attendance.
Saint John has embraced platforms like Zoom for worship.
鈥淭hank God for technology,鈥� Adams said. 鈥淭hat was good and bad. Some people, I jokingly call it, decided to attend 鈥楤edside Baptist鈥� instead of coming to church.鈥�
Robinson-Duffie said motivating people to return to in-person services has been a challenge, as the pandemic disrupted routines. Bible studies and prayer meetings continue via teleconference as a result.
Exacerbating the situation is Overtown鈥檚 demographic shift as original residents continue to be priced out, explains Adams. At one point in the 鈥�60s and early 鈥�70s, St. John鈥檚 membership was about 1,500.
鈥淢any of the original residents are no longer there and have been displaced and really can鈥檛 afford Overtown anymore,鈥� Adams said.
However, some churches are seeing growth.
鈥淒uring COVID, we had tremendous growth, especially online,鈥� said Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis, associate pastor at in Pembroke Park. 鈥淥ur attendance and membership grew.鈥�
The church embraced livestreaming services and digital tithing, reaching new members across cities and countries.
鈥淭he churches doing better [are the ones who] have adjusted to the technological shifts,鈥� Willis said.
The generational gap
Nationwide, Black church membership has by nearly 20 percentage points over the past two decades. While older generations continue to attend church, only about half of Black millennials and Gen Zers are involved, according to
In Miami, it varies by church.
鈥淢any young people are coming back,鈥� Willis said. 鈥淗owever, the majority of the young ones are kind of standing back, and they may be online and watch church while they're in their car going somewhere else.鈥�
Despite this, Saint John has a thriving youth membership. Robinson-Duffie said 30-40% of the church鈥檚 staff and ministers are millennials or Gen Zers.
鈥淲e have 95-year-olds and 5-month-olds in the sanctuary,鈥� Duffie said. 鈥淐heck out our YouTube page during Easter or Christmas. You鈥檒l see 25 to 30 young people participating in those services.鈥�
Saint John embraces contemporary formats alongside traditional services to connect with younger audiences.
鈥淚f you want to attract and retain young people, you can鈥檛 just do church as it was 50 years ago,鈥� Robinson-Duffie said.
in West Little River, now led by Dr. Kelon Duke, is an example of a church relevant to all generations. Pastor Dr. Kenneth Duke led it for nearly 40 years before passing the baton to his son earlier this month.
Kelon Duke views stepping into his father鈥檚 role as a natural transition, comparing it to the evolution of sports legends.
鈥淚 grew up watching Michael Jordan, and I have had the opportunity to watch Dwyane Wade, LeBron James. Every person has to serve their era,鈥� he said.
Pastor Dr. Kenneth Duke and his son Dr. Kelon Duke sit in their offices to discuss and find initiatives to keep the church current.
Engaging the youth
Navigating tradition and innovation is essential, Kenneth Duke and Kelon Duke say, and they embrace both.
鈥淲e sit in this room and we talk,鈥� said Kenneth Duke. 鈥淲hat I鈥檝e had to do is receive more. As an older person, I鈥檓 learning to listen.鈥�
Focused on creating a sustainable, team-based leadership model that includes all age groups, the Dukes say 50% of their congregation now comes from younger generations.
鈥淎nd not just them 鈥� people my age too. Families are coming. It has a lot to do with how he preaches and communicates,鈥� Kenneth Duke said of his son.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 say they鈥檙e not coming to church. I鈥檇 say they come to church differently,鈥� Kelon Duke added, noting varying attendance patterns, with some Gen Zers attending weekly and others biweekly.
鈥淭hey are there,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Gen Z revival, with young people showing up early and hungry for meaningful engagement.鈥�
To connect with this energy, New Jerusalem has a young adult ministry focused on Gen Z鈥檚 values: community, visibility and authenticity. Kelon Duke鈥檚 preaching style reflects these values.
Whether it鈥檚 cracking a joke mid-sermon or crying during worship, Kelon Duke said he embraces realness and creativity as essential tools for connection.
鈥淭hey want authenticity. That鈥檚 what my preaching style aims for. I want them to know I鈥檓 living where they鈥檙e living.鈥�
The church also uses culturally resonant programming like the 鈥淟et鈥檚 Go to the Movies鈥� sermon series, which ties biblical messages to iconic films such as Soul Food and Love Jones. The congregation dresses the part, and the result is joyful, engaging worship that bridges the generational gap.
鈥淐ulture doesn鈥檛 have to be the enemy of Christ,鈥� Kelon Duke said. 鈥淐hrist was always using cultural influences to reach people. The gospel was a secular word that Jesus was able to use to spread good news.鈥�
This story was produced by The Miami Times, one of the oldest Black-owned newspapers in the country, as part of a content sharing partnership with the SA国际传谋 newsroom. Read more at .
