The chapel on the first floor could have room for about 163 people, according the plans.
The center will incorporate “the exercise of religion without limitation prayer, worship, development and restoration, and other religious activities,” according to the permit application.
In 2022, the church withdrew plans for a human trafficking victim shelter after opposition from neighbors in nearby Oakhurst who were concerned about parking and safety.
The building permit application also includes renderings that appear identical to those on the church’s website dedicated to its proposed trafficking victim shelter.
Renderings of the inside of Mercy Culture Church’s proposed religious discipleship center taken from its building permit application Screenshot Renderings of Mercy Culture Church’s proposed religious discipleship center taken from its building permit application. Screenshot
Representatives for Mercy Culture Church did not immediately respond to a phone call, text message and two emails from the Star-Telegram requesting more information about the project.
The Justice Residences would house trafficking survivors for one to three years to help them heal from their trauma in a way that is “Presence Driven and Biblically based,” according to the Justice Reform website.
Neighbors at a March 2022 community meeting were skeptical about the church’s plans, and expressed concern that Mercy Culture’s leadership wasn’t qualified to undertake such an endeavor.
This aroused the ire of lead pastor Landon Schott, who in a May 2023 sermon called those opposed to the project an “insane demonic resistance.”
The earliest the project could go before the city’s zoning commission would be Oct. 9 followed by a hearing before the Fort Worth City Council as early as Nov. 12.
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