SouthSide Ministries

Justin Udo

Syracuse, Ny- Pastor Darrin Jaime is the pastor of the People A.M.E Zion church.

He has been here in Syracuse for a little more than a year. In that year and a half he has made a lot of change in the Syracuse community on the South Side.

If you look out at these empty lots and broken down buildings on South Salina street they may not look like much. A few months ago these empty lots and houses were full of broken beer bottles, used condoms and ramped drug use.

Pastor Jaime says "we are just trying to clear everything out so we can make room for something better."

Pastor Jaime is not just trying to fix buildings and lots on the South Side. He says he is trying to fix lives.

CLOTHING DRIVE

Barbara Honold holds back the tears as she says how much help the clothing drive that pastor Jaime is holding is a help to her.

"this is amazing to me, this is just amazing that these young people would just get together and work so hard for the grace of God"

BASKETBALL MINISTRY

Basketball is something that many young men love to play. Pastor Jaime spends his Saturday afternoons hosting open gyms in the church basement. He spends this time teaching the young men more than basketball. he teaches them life lessons. Marquie Little found himself constantly getting in trouble but since he started coming to the church and working with pastor Jaime he says he has direction in his life.

"This is good. the program helps me stay out of trouble and off the streets."

Pastor Jaime is not the cure-all for a community that is down on it's luck, but he says he is trying to do his part in helping the South Side of Syracuse regain its stability.