Why would anyone build a church in the middle of Little Rock’s most violent zip code? Because that’s where hope is needed most.
Pastor Mark DeYmaz leads Mosaic Church, a multiethnic congregation in Little Rock, Arkansas. He’s spent decades working across lines of race, class, and politics to try to rebuild broken trust in some of the most wounded neighborhoods.
He intentionally built his church in an area of the city with some of the highest crime rates—an area with significant homelessness and opioid issues—putting them right in the middle of the challenges they aim to address. The church has spent decades creating what DeYmaz calls a “hub of hope”—offering everything from food and counseling to housing support and chess club.
DeYmaz breaks down two essential needs every person must have—significance and security—and why addressing those needs is key to preventing violence and creating lasting change. From repurposing abandoned buildings to attracting investment from the business community, he explains that restoring neighborhoods isn’t just about programs—it’s about people, persistence, and purpose.
Smart Justice is a magazine, podcast, and continuing news coverage from the nonprofit Restore Hope and covers the pursuit of better outcomes on justice system-related issues, such as child welfare, incarceration, and juvenile justice. Our coverage is solutions-oriented, focusing on the innovative ways in which communities are solving issues and the lessons that have been learned as a result of successes and challenges.
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