Lifelong friends return to revitalize Alden Baptist Church

Three lifelong friends are giving back to the Springfield community after spending years away helping to restore the childhood church. 22 News reporter Lexi White is live in studio after speaking with these charitable people. Lexi. Ciara, these three friends are also known as the Sons of Springfield. After building lives in other states, they're back to stabilize the church they grew up in, the Alden Baptist Church, giving the new generation a chance to experience What they did all those years ago. Returning. This is why we call this the homecoming to give back to Springfield. The Alden Baptist Church in Springfield, once being a popular place of worship, a space for children to play, an outlet people can use to escape reality and the common ground for these three lifelong friends. Sean Kennedy, Ricky McKenzie and Sean Gale, otherwise known as the Sons of Springfield. The group's spending years out of the state, building new lives, creating new names, and putting down roots in new communities. Now, after hearing of the church's recent struggles... The Sons of Springfield are bringing it back to their home city. They are jump-starting a fresh beginning at the Alton Baptist Church. And to kick it off, the community is gathering here to celebrate. It's a homecoming of sorts, loved ones reuniting with a common goal, to revive the church they grew up with. The reason we are here is to give back to the city of Springfield. We were all raised and blessed by so many people in this community. This village got us where we are, so it's time for us to pay it forward. The Sons of Springfield stabilizing the church, now looking to see how they can give that same feeling they got as children to the next generation. To be back with a purpose is the most exciting thing for me, so I'm happy to be back with a purpose. The purpose is to have impact. And if we have impact, we can create opportunity and leave a lasting legacy. Community leaders and local officials showing their support as each of the Sons of Springfield take center stage, sharing why this is important to them. Sustaining this church was the first step of many steps to come. Attainable housing, workforce development, and community engagement. So, again, we want to be the change. Come back with my two brothers and to give back to the same community that I'm from, I mean, it's emotional. And the story doesn't end here. Stabilizing the Alden Baptist Church is just the first stop for the Sons of Springfield on their journey of giving back to the city that raised them. The Sons of Springfield are continuing their charitable notions across the city, hoping to make a lasting impression and help to make positive changes in the community. Working for you, Lexi White, 22 News.