Pastors and Christian leaders filled the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center Tuesday to break bread and embrace Selma Mayor George Evans’ “call to action” in using their influence to improve their communities.

In partnership with Selma-Dallas Leadership class 18, the Mayor’s Pastoral Breakfast Evans said, was the beginning of the area coming together.

“We must change the concept of Selma-Dallas County — whatever we do in Selma (and) Dallas County is important,” Evans said. “We can combine and work together as churches to involve our neighborhoods; we’re taking over territories in our cities to talk about litter, crime, community service (and) goodwill.”

A graduate of both Tuskegee and Troy universities, keynote speaker and Tuskegee Mayor Omar Neal started a similar concept in his city. Neal spoke about the importance of church leaders stepping up.

“The church is the greatest protective factor you have in your community,” Neal said. “I believe the church has to move beyond the walls and out to the communities. To whom much is given, much is required … it’s time for the church to come out.”

Neal also spoke about how leaders can strategically address some of the major issues in their neighborhoods.

“Each of us have been ‘called out’ to be ‘called on’ for such a time as this,” Neal said. “I can say with all honesty and candor, if we ever needed the Lord before, we sho do need him now. Cleanliness is next to Godliness, if that is true, how is your domain? How people feel about themselves is based upon their environment … what impact is your church making in Selma?”

Practicality and spirituality, Neal said, go hand-in-hand.