Last January first-term National City Councilman Albert Mendivil decided he wanted to directly improve the National City community far more than just by making policy and voting on city-related issues.
So the devout Christian formed the National City Clergy Association, a network of about 20 pastors from National City churches that meets once a month to pray for the city and discuss community-oriented issues to enhance the city’s quality of life.
“We come together, we pray for each other, for the city, for cohesiveness,” Mendivil said. “Then we talk about how we can improve National City. In our opinion, the more people you get into church the better it is for the city.”
Mendivil, 62, a member of Amazing Grace Church in Chula Vista, said he started the group as a private citizen, not a councilman.
“I wanted to do whatever I could to improve the city, improve the living conditions, improve everything about the city,” he said. “I figured there was no better way [of doing that] than through the churches.”
The inspiration for the group came from a similar faith-based group in Lemon Grove.
