Fortress Ministries, 121 Gingercake Trl, Fayetteville, GA 30214, US

In 1986, Vine City Health and Housing Ministry ( formerly known as The Vine City Housing Ministry, Inc ) was organized from 11 community churches by Reverend W.L. Cottrell, pastor of the Beulah Baptist Church. The thrust for organizing was largely in response to an unpopular decision by the State of Georgia that year to locate a government building on a land parcel that had previously been targeted for residential redevelopment. With advocacy from community churches, the State was defeated and the decision to build the office building was reversed and housing was eventually built on the site. The Vine City Health and Housing Ministry had also been born. The founding member churches of Vine City Health and Housing Ministry were Beulah Baptist Church, Central United Methodist Church, Cosmopolitan AME Church, Lindsay Street Baptist Church, Friendship Baptist Church, Grace Covenant Baptist Church, Greater Bethany Baptist Church, Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, and West Mitchell CME Church. The founding board of directors of Vine City Health and Housing Ministry included Reverend W.L. Cottrell of Beulah Baptist Church, Reverend William Guy of Friendship Baptist Church, Reverend Joseph E. Lowery of Central United Methodist Church, Reverend Walter J. Hall of Rising Star Baptist Church, Reverend E. Hall of Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, Reverend J.W. Fielder of Greater Vine City Baptist Church, Reverend D.H. Jackson Sr. of Cosmopolitan A.M.E. Church, Reverend Curtis L. Lester of Greater Bethany Baptist Church, and Reverend C.L. Stokes of Grace Covenant Baptist Church. Since its founding in 1986, Vine City Health and Housing Ministry has accomplished its mission by focusing its activities in the areas Real Estate Development, Economic Development, and Human Service Development. Over the years VCHHM has coordinated, collaborated, partnered, and directly performed many activities through its programs.