About the New Zion Holiness Church Project
I never forgot about the Clear Lake Baptism that I covered almost 40 years ago while working as a newspaper photographer in Cocoa, Florida. In early 2012 I started looking for a photography project “with meat on its bones” just so I could stretch out and return to my photojournalism roots.
I love observing people doing what they do. It is the way life works and what every photojournalist tries to capture on the fly with no intervention of any sort.
My memories of the baptism led me to find Bishop Nate Holmes and the wonderful people at the New Zion Holiness Church on the outskirts of Pahokee, Florida. Bishop Holmes and his congregation welcomed me with open arms and warm hearts. These kind folks allowed me to photograph their church services and intimate moments as they worshiped God with moving praise and song.
To me life has always been about the people. The beauty in the human spirit when folks come together with love and respect in any endeavor is a wonderful thing to observe.
This project ended up being shown at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach in 2013 titled Witness: Gospel by the Cane Fields.
Red Morgan