The members of the Gaston County Clergy & Citizens Coalition Group (GC3) are area ministers and citizen advocates that work together to build community relations among the races. Their mission is to embrace opportunities by building bridges of faith, family, education and empowerment and partner with God and each other to build stronger communities in Gaston County.

Dr. Ben Hinton Tabernacle Baptist Church

Rev. Dickie Spargo Bethlehem Church

The GC3 currently has five (5) Project Focus Areas:

• Breakfast of Champions: monthly event (currently held at Bessemer City Middle and Grier Middle Schools with an identified group of students providing one-on-one time between pastors and students; some events also feature guest speakers who bring inspirational messages to the students.


• Gaston County Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Awards: The Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Bridge and Plaza are a result of planning by this group.


• Leadership Role in Reducing Teen Pregnancy: GC3 leadership developed a brochure of program offerings for parents and/or youth in the county dealing with teen risk-taking behaviors.


• Community Crisis Sites: GC3 is actively working with the American Red Cross to identify church sites that meet the specific criteria set forth for such facilities as approved by the Red Cross. Fourteen (14) such sites are needed across Gaston County.


• Community Partnerships: The GC3 partners with First Things First of Gaston County to provide and promote marriage seminars for engaged and newly-wed couples; the GC3 partners call on the Gastonia Faith Network for community programs as needed.