Phenix City pastor speaks out against violence in the community Phenix City pastor speaks out against violence in the community By James Giles | March 1, 2021 at 11:37 PM EST - Updated March 2 at 12:12 AM PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WTVM) - The death of a 32-year-old man happened near one Phenix City pastor’s church over the weekend. Reverend Nathaniel Copeland of Gaines Chapel AME Church says the senseless killings have to stop. According to Copeland, several shootings have happened around the area of Dillingham Street in Phenix City. He wants to see everyone in the city of Columbus and Phenix City come together to fix the issue of crime in the Chattahoochee Valley.