Serve & Connect joined partners from across Richland County to celebrate something truly special — the grand opening of Greg’s Place!
Tucked just off Decker Boulevard at 8131 Brookfield Road, Greg’s Place isn’t just a building. It’s a symbol of hope, collaboration, and the power of community coming together to write a new chapter for the Decker corridor.
Honoring Greg’s Legacy
Greg’s Place is named in honor of Officer Greg Alia, who was tragically killed in the line of duty on September 30, 2015, while serving with the Forest Acres Police Department.
Greg grew up right here — he attended Richland Northeast High School, played in these neighborhoods, and later returned to serve the very community that shaped him. His life and legacy inspired the founding of Serve & Connect and continue to guide our mission every single day.
So it feels fitting — almost poetic — that Greg’s Place now stands in the heart of the community he loved, carrying forward his spirit of service, compassion, and connection.
From Church to Community Hub
Before it became Greg’s Place, this property was home to Petersen Presbyterian Church, a congregation that faithfully served this community for decades. When the church closed its doors at the end of 2022, the future of the space was uncertain — until the Trinity Presbytery (PCUSA) made a decision that would change everything.
They could have sold the property for a higher price. But instead, they chose a higher purpose.
Pastor Ellen Skidmore of nearby Forest Lake Presbyterian Church read the letter dedicating the space for Rev. Dr. Danny C. Murphy, General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of Trinity Presbytery (PCUSA) who could not be there that day.
“Good morning, beloved friends, neighbors, and visionaries of God’s tomorrow.
On behalf of Trinity Presbytery—56 congregations, 10,000 members, and countless saints who believe God is still doing great things—I bring you greetings in the strong and saving name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
This ground is holy. Not because of the bricks. Not because of the beams. But because of the prayers that have been prayed here, the lives that have been changed here, and the faith that has been nurtured here.
In 1959, a small group gathered in the Woodfield Community Center and dreamed of a church. By 1961, they dedicated this sanctuary. Over the decades, Petersen Presbyterian baptized infants, welcomed soldiers from Fort Jackson, and served its neighbors with joy. Their motto was simple yet powerful: Go Forward with God.
But as seasons changed, their numbers dwindled. On December 31, 2022, Petersen Presbyterian closed its doors—a day of sorrow. But child of God, hear me: when one door closes in Christ, another door is ready to open!
When Petersen’s doors closed, Trinity Presbytery was entrusted with this property. Yes, we had choices. Some buyers even offered more than twice what Serve & Connect could pay.
But we are not guided by Wall Street—we are guided by the Kingdom of God. And the Kingdom doesn’t ask, What brings the most money? The Kingdom asks, What brings the most glory?
So, we chose to invest in a vision—a vision big enough to bless this community for generations to come.
Serve & Connect embodies the very words Petersen once declared: Go Forward with God.
- They believe police and neighborhoods long for the same things—safety, dignity, trust, and peace.
- They believe healing comes when we stand side by side, not apart.
- They believe tragedy should stir compassion, not silence.
- They believe hope can rise in the hardest places.
- They believe partnerships are stronger than suspicion.
And that’s where The Decker Collective steps in. Together, Serve & Connect and The Decker Collective are building not just programs, but partnerships.
Not just services, but solutions.
Not just community safety, but community healing.
It is one thing to say we need change—it is another to build tables where police, neighbors, nonprofits, and leaders sit down together. That’s the work of Serve & Connect. That’s the heartbeat of The Decker Collective.
Yes, we sold this property for less. But hear me clearly:
- We didn’t sell out; we sowed in.
- We didn’t lose money; we invested in mission.
- We didn’t give away property; we planted possibility.
- We didn’t just mark an ending; we sparked a new beginning.
So today, this place is not just brick and mortar—it is a place of healing, a place of hope, and a place where God’s vision for the Decker Corridor will unfold.
Petersen’s motto lives on: Go Forward with God. And now, Serve & Connect, in partnership with The Decker Collective, has picked up that mantle.
This is resurrection work. This is Kingdom work. This is God’s work.
So let us rejoice and celebrate this partnership—with our prayers, our presence, and our participation. Because when they flourish, our whole community flourishes.
One day, when our grandchildren look back, they won’t say, ‘They took the highest offer.’ They’ll say, ‘They took the higher road.’
To God be the glory—for the great things God has done, is doing, and will yet do through the partnership of Serve & Connect and The Decker Collective.”
Built by Community, for Community
Turning Greg’s Place from a dream into reality took countless hours, ideas, and hands.
We want to extend a special thank you to everyone who shared such meaningful words during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Pastor Ellen Skidmore of Forest Lake Presbyterian Church; South Carolina Representative Joe Wilson; State Senator Overture Walker; State Representative Beth Bernstein; Richland County Councilmember Cheryl English (District 10); Forest Acres Mayor Tom Andrews; Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott; Greg’s father, Dr. Richard Alia; and Greg’s sister, Rebecca Mesnil.
This project came together through the hard work and generosity of many partners, including the City of Forest Acres, the City of Arcadia Lakes, Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, Trinity Presbyterian Church, Richland School District Two, Richland County, and the grassroots energy of The Decker Collective — a local network of residents and leaders committed to making the Decker area stronger.
The vision for Greg’s Place grew directly from conversations with community members. We listened to neighbors and youth who shared what they wanted and needed most — a place to belong, to learn, to grow, and to connect.
Looking Ahead
The ribbon cutting marked the opening of the first of three buildings on the Greg’s Place property. Over time, this campus will become a true hub for the Decker community — a place where residents can attend workshops, training sessions, community events, and access resources that support their well-being.
Thanks to funding from Richland County and the South Carolina State Legislature, Greg’s Place will serve as a cornerstone for revitalization and collaboration along Decker Boulevard.
But beyond the programs and partnerships, Greg’s Place stands for something bigger: the belief that lasting change happens when we come together — police, neighbors, leaders, and community members — to build something we all can be proud of.
