Arrested for Selling Water on a Memphis Corner, He Got a Car Instead
Charges against Demarcus Dickerson were declined. Then a pastor and his community gave him a car, help starting a business and a GoFundMe
The short answer
According to The Christian Post, Demarcus Dickerson, 33, was charged with obstructing a highway on 6 October 2026 for selling water and Gatorade at East Parkway and Poplar Avenue in Memphis; the Shelby County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute. Pastor Gregory D. Stapleton Jr. of Greater Impact Faith Church and the community then gave him a car, a GoFundMe raised more than $3,500 of a $6,000 goal, and partners helped him set up an LLC, covered his licence reinstatement fees and offered business coaching.
On 6 October, Demarcus Dickerson, 33, was selling water and Gatorade at the corner of East Parkway and Poplar Avenue in Memphis. He was arrested and charged with obstructing a highway.
The Shelby County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute. And then the story turned.
What the Community Did
"Arrested for selling water on a Memphis corner, Demarcus Dickerson walked away with a car, a business set-up and a community behind him — because a pastor decided to help him work rather than move him on."
Click to copy and sharePastor Gregory D. Stapleton Jr. of Greater Impact Faith Church rallied people around Dickerson, according to The Christian Post. This week, they gave him a car. A GoFundMe raised more than $3,500 of a $6,000 goal. Others helped him:
- set up a limited liability company, so his hustle could become a business;
- pay his driver's licence reinstatement fees, covered by an organisation called We Fight Monsters;
- get coaching in financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
In Their Words
"It's amazing because I know people support me. They care about me," Dickerson said. "I'm glad the community is coming together to help me."
"This is what happens when a community comes together, not just to talk about change, but to MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN!" Stapleton said.
Why It's Here
Most of what we report is big: stadiums, campuses, nations. This one is a single man on a single corner. But it's the shape of the gospel in a neighbourhood — a church that saw someone trying to work and asked how to help him work better, rather than how to move him on. It's the same instinct behind the Kenyan churches caring for older men and the street outreach in our partnership feature: love that shows up with practical help.
Arrested for selling water on a Memphis corner, Demarcus Dickerson walked away with a car, a business set-up and a community behind him — because a pastor decided to help him work rather than move him on.
Biblical Perspective
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). Scripture repeatedly ties faith to practical help for the person in front of us — James asks what good it is to wish someone well "but does nothing about their physical needs" (James 2:16), and Proverbs honours those who are kind to the needy (Proverbs 14:31).
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
— 1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Lord, thank You for Demarcus Dickerson and for Pastor Stapleton and the people of Memphis who stood with him. Bless his new business and his family. Give our churches eyes to see the people trying to make a living on our own streets — and hands ready to help. In Jesus' name, amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›Love shows up with action, not just words!
- ›Our churches will be good news to our cities!
- ›God opens doors for those who work!
Take Action
- 1Notice one person in your city working hard on the margins — and ask how you can help.
- 2Ask your church whether it has a way to help people start small businesses.
- 3Thank a local pastor who shows up for the community.
"Arrested for selling water on a Memphis corner — then a pastor and a community gave him a car and a business. Love in action."
Pray & Speak Life Over This Story
Don't just read — respond in faith. Click below to declare that you have prayed over this story and spoken life into it. Our prayers and words have power to change the world.
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue." — Proverbs 18:21
Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
What happened to Demarcus Dickerson in Memphis?
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According to The Christian Post, Demarcus Dickerson, 33, was arrested on 6 October 2026 for selling water and Gatorade at a Memphis intersection; prosecutors declined the case. Pastor Gregory D. Stapleton Jr. of Greater Impact Faith Church and the community then gave him a car and helped him start a business.
Sources & further reading
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
1 John 3:18 (NIV)
Get encouraging Kingdom news, testimonies, and prayer points weekly.
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