Deacon Moore from New Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church in Detroit said of the church, “There was a time you couldn't sit in the hallway by the doors because the air was blowing in, especially in the winter, it would just chase people right out. Now we can't get them out of the hallway. They’re all sitting out there comfortable, laughing, talking, because of the improvements we made.” A ten plus year vision of becoming a resiliency center led New Mt. Hermon to apply for Sacred Spaces, and later join the Michigan Community Center Grant. Now, thanks to this program and others, the congregation is one step closer. 

Elected officials and community members celebrate the installation of New Mount Hermon’s solar panels, December 2024

“Environmental issues are the key issues in 48217 so we had no choice but to get on board. We're stewards of God's creation, so we have to be sensitive to how we treat not only each other but treat Creation in its totality.” " - Rev. Dr. Alex R. Hill

A ten plus year vision of becoming a resiliency center led New Mt. Hermon Missionary Baptist Church to apply for Sacred Spaces. Now, thanks to this program and others, the congregation is one step closer. Located in the state’s most polluted zip code, New Mount Hermon was seeking to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and to ensure it remained operational during power outages.

New Mt. Hermon's solar install day in October of 2024. Pictured left to right: Karanja Famodou from Ryter Cooperative Industries (solar installer), Leah Wiste, Dn. Wilson Moore and Pastor Alex R. Hill 

Feeding Bodies, Lifting Spirits

New Mt. Hermon serves the community with open hands and open hearts, focusing on meeting both physical and spiritual needs. Twice a month—on the first and third Thursdays—the church hosts a food ministry to ensure no one in the neighborhood goes hungry. Beyond that, special meals are provided during Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the church remains a constant source of support for anyone in urgent need of food, help with bills, or even emotional support through counseling. Recognizing the challenges faced by youth, New Mt. Hermon also offers counseling and tutoring programs, particularly during the summer months.

Sacred Spaces enabled New Mt. Hermon to install major energy upgrades, including LED lighting, ENERGY STAR exterior doors, four new AC units, three high-efficiency furnaces, and two hybrid heat pump water heaters. After these improvements, the church received an additional grant from through the MCCG program to install rooftop solar panels—further lowering costs and boosting sustainability.

The upgrades have helped the church drastically cut its energy costs—saving nearly $10,000 annually. These savings have allowed the church to reallocate funds toward essential community services, such as van and bus repairs, which are critical for outreach and transportation needs. By reducing one of their largest expenses, the grant has empowered New Mount Hermon to better serve their congregation and extend their support more effectively throughout the community.

New Mt. Hermon members at the Fall 2025 Community Emergency Response Training which they participated in in preparation for meeting community needs in times of disaster

Drafty Halls to Warm Welcomes

Deacon Moore wants other congregations to know that saving energy doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive—it just takes a little effort and planning. While the church was fortunate to receive a grant that covered the full cost of their upgrades, many simple and affordable changes can still make a big impact.

He suggests starting by weatherizing your building: seal leaky windows, replace or weather-strip old doors, fix water leaks, and regularly change furnace filters. Even small habits, like turning off lights when you leave a room or installing motion-sensor lighting, can add up to big savings. Tools and materials for these improvements—like weather-stripping or window plastic—are available at stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Michigan Interfaith Power & Light can offer guidance, assessments, and resources - visit our energy resources page to learn more. At New Mount Hermon, these changes have not only saved money—they’ve transformed the building into a more comfortable and welcoming place for everyone.

Solar Celebration in late 2024. Pictured left: Pastor Glass (Lord of Lords Ministries, a fellow grant receipient and Pastor Alex R. Hill (New Mount Hermon) - the two first Black "Solar" churches in the city of Detroit; Picture right: Ginna Holmes with the Michigan Community Service Commission who funded New Mt. Hermon's solar project through the Michigan Community Center Grant and New Mount Hermon solar project coordinator Lynn Wiggins

Select upgrades were supported by Michigan’s Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) under U.S. Treasury Dept. award number SLFRF0127. Sacred Spaces upgrades were supported by the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) under U.S. Dept. of Energy award number EE0008653 in partnership with World Renew and EcoWorks.