Fort Myers church, ‘light of the community,’ installs cameras

FORT MYERS, Fla. – A Fort Myers church is installing eight additional surveillance cameras to help fight community crime.

Christian Faith Fellowship is on the corner of Central Avenue and Moreno Street. In the past six months, there have been nearly 50 crimes committed with-in a half-mile radius of the church and neighboring school Fort Myers Middle Academy.

Neighbors, like Kenneth Dudley, said the issue has worsened over the years but that cameras could deter people from committing crimes.

“The crime rate now is through the roof. It used to never be like that here,” Dudley said. “I think it’s a great idea that could put an end to a lot of this crime or at least help.”

Church leaders say the cameras, which are high definition, will operate all day and continue the mission of uplifting the neighborhood.

“We’re more than just a church. we’re the light of the community,” Shane Sparks, Christian Faith Fellowship’s media director, said.

Church members are also people in the community who are concerned about the safety of their loved ones, said the church pastor Nixon Cesar.

“The church is made up of families and the families are from the community,” Cesar said. “You find out that so much is going on in your community, then it makes you become extra aware because at any point at any time it could affect your own kids.”