By Dr. MiChele Stevenson, Steward – Gregg Chapel AME Church
Hope, partnership, and purpose were on full display as community leaders, residents, and faith partners gathered for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of Vineyard Village, a new affordable housing development designed to serve low- to moderate-income families in Crestview. Held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., the celebration marked the official opening of the 18-unit apartment complex situated on 1.4 acres of city-owned land.
Vineyard Village is the result of a collaborative partnership between the City of Crestview, Gregg Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Florida Department of Commerce. Together, these partners transformed a shared vision into a tangible solution addressing one of the community’s most pressing needs—safe, stable, and affordable housing.
“By partnering with Gregg Chapel AME Church and the Florida Department of Commerce, we’ve turned a shared vision into a lasting investment in our community,” said Crestview City Manager Jessica Leavins. Vineyard Village reflects what’s possible when government, faith-based organizations, and community stakeholders work together for the common good.
At the heart of the project is Gregg Chapel AME Church, led by the Reverend Cecil B. Williams, whose ministry is deeply rooted in outreach, service, and what he calls “Kingdom Thinking”—the belief that when one is blessed, the entire community benefits. The Reverend Williams serves alongside his wife, Cassandra J. Williams, and continues a powerful pastoral legacy begun by his father, the Rev. James W. Williams, who previously pastored the church. Under their leadership, Gregg Chapel has grown into a vibrant, multi-generational congregation of approximately 250 members, including over 40 youth – the lifeblood of the church.
“You can tell the viability of a church by its generations,” the Reverend Williams often says. “We have members from three months old to 98 years old. The children aren’t just the future of our church—they are our present.”
Gregg Chapel describes itself as “a small church doing big things,” a phrase coined by its oldest resident member, Mrs. Mary B. Stevenson, a retired educator whose wisdom and service reflect the spirit of the congregation. That spirit has long included a commitment to housing the unhoused and underserved.
The church’s history of affordable housing dates back to the late 1980s, when, under the leadership of the Reverend Cotton, Gregg Chapel acquired properties on McGriff Street, creating five affordable apartment units. Those units have remained intentionally affordable, with rents kept under $550—an extraordinary commitment to true affordability. Years later, the church expanded its housing ministry with the acquisition of six units dedicated to homeless veterans, known as the Nathaniel Smith House of Valor, honoring a veteran whose dream was to serve those who had served their country. In a strong military community like Northwest Florida, Gregg Chapel has remained steadfast in its belief that veterans—“those at the tip of the spear”—must be cared for.
Vineyard Village represents both a continuation and an expansion of that mission. The Reverend Williams shared that years ago, while pastoring in Crestview, he would often pass the now-transformed property when it was overrun and plagued by illegal activity. He prayed for God to clean up the land, never imagining it would one day become the site of a housing community dedicated to dignity and hope – a legacy of Gregg Chapel AME Church.
“That’s how the Holy Spirit works,” the Reverend Williams reflected. “God gives new vision.”
That vision became Vineyard Village—18 thoughtfully designed units with plans to expand to 28 units in the future. The Reverend Williams grounds the housing ministry in Matthew 25:31–46, a scripture he calls the foundation of the project. “This is what the Lord will judge us on,” he said. “Sheltering His people is one of those things.”
Beyond housing, Gregg Chapel operates multiple ministries focused on outreach, community care, and empowerment. The Reverend Williams often challenges congregations with a simple question: If your church left the community today, would the community miss you? For Gregg Chapel, Vineyard Village is part of the answer.
As the ribbon was cut and community members toured the new apartments, Vineyard Village stood as more than a building—it stood as a testament to faith in action, collaborative leadership, and a shared belief that everyone in the community is important. Through partnership, prayer, and purpose, Crestview has gained not just new housing but also renewed hope for families who can now call Vineyard Village home.
This is fantastic. Gregg Chapel is accomplishing great works for the Lord and the community. To God be the glory……