Bethel AME 139

By submitted, 11/11/18 7:49 AM

PRESCOTT – Bethel AME Church is 139 years old.

The history of Bethel can be written as a memorial to many citizens who gave their influences, labor and finances in the dark days when faith and hope was at a low ebb, and many of whom have long gone onto their great rewards. As for Bethel’s present membership, too much cannot be said, and not enough credit can be given for their unselfish devotion and many years of service.

Church officials have reason to believe that Bethel  was organized in the late 1879 ‘s, in the home of Bro. Frank  Dees. First pastor assigned to Bethel by the Annual Conference was Rev. Zeke Pennington. First church property was purchased for $80 on June 13, 1880. The second church property was erected in 1890, the third church property was erected in 1933. The first Sunday School superintendent  was Bro. Richard “Shoemaker” Harris. On May 27, 1988, we had ground breaking for our present  building, 418 S. Laurel. The presiding bishop was the Right  Rev. Henry A. Belin. The pastor was Rev. Thomas Adair (who later became our presiding elder) conducted its first worship service in the new church on Sept. 4,1988, and celebrated its 108th Church Anniversary on Nov. 10, the same year.

Beginning this century, we’ve had seven pastors beginning with Rev. Enous Montgomery who was sent  to us in 1999.  2001- Rev. Arthur Coulter (who hosted our first  Annual Conference this century),  2005-Rev. Gregory Guinn,   2007-Rev. Carroll Anderson Hosted our Annual Conference in 2008),   2014- Rev. Thurston B. Lamb,   2015- Rev. Shirley Bowers,   2016 until present- Rev Lue K. Montgomery.

Present Officers: SS Superintendent- Milko Smith, Women’s missionary president-Shirley Davis, Youth Director-Connie Jefferson, Lay President-Shirley Lindsey, Choir President-W. Darryl Muldrew, the deaconess is Ammie Johnson

The church’s connectional motto is “God Our Father, Christ our Redeemer, Holy Spirit Our Comforter, Humankind Our Family

Please come and celebrate with us this year on Sunday, Nov.18, at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Floyd Trotter of Clear Lake Baptist Church, will be the speaker. The church has come this far by faith and God’s blessing. The chairperson of several church past anniversaries and this present one is Shirley Hicks Davis.