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This Months Scripture Proverbs 13: 14
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AME Ministries | Worship Services | Ministerial Staff
On April 13, 1869, Greensboro, North Carolina was the host city for the North Carolina Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. At that meeting, a motion to establish an African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Eastern part of the city was passed. Rev. Elisha Boon was assigned to oversee the new development and serve as pastor. Some of the lay members who served in the initial development of the church were Dr. and Mrs. James B. Dudley, Mr. Watson Law, Mr. Yancey Gibson, Mr. Alfred Blount, and Mr. Anderson Ledwell. The property was purchased from Mr. Peter Adams, November 24, 1874. The first African Methodist Episcopal church in Greensboro was a small wood structure completed in 1874. It was called Boon Chapel after Rev. Elisha Boon the founder. Over the next twenty years, membership at Boon Chapel grew so rapidly that a larger facility was needed. Also, plans to establish a separate conference for the area was underway. The Western North Carolina Conference was formed in 1892. In 1893 leadership was assigned to Boon Chapel. The Rev. Charles H. King leadership, additional property adjourning Boon Chapel was purchased from Jonathan W. Casey. In order to accommodate the growing membership, the church voted to invest in the future by building a historical brick structure. This structure was an impressive Gothic design with a beautiful sanctuary complete with classic stain glass windows and full basement. Accentuated the altar was a sphere of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane high above a centered cross. The stained glass artistic design of Christ is the one remaining original art of the first Bethel in Greensboro. The church was completed in 1894. With the new structure , the name Boon Chapel was changed to Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. For the next fifty years, Bethel survived the perils of this nation: its wars, recessions, depressions, Jim Crow laws, segregation, and injustices were endured with prayer and an abiding faith in God. During the early 20th century, East Market Street was the heart of the black community. It ran east to west on a two lane unpaved road. In 1959 under the pastoral care of Rev. Melvin Swann, Sr. massive Civil rights meeting were held at Bethel. Later these meeting became rallies in which the church played a major role as a supportive host and vehicle for raising funds to be used as bond money for the release of the hundreds of arrested Civil Rights marchers..
The mission of Bethel A.M.E. Church is to minister to the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, and physical needs of all people by the gospel through word (witness) and deed (action). It is our mission to empower our membership with hope and encourage. It is our mission to provide a cultural connection to the religious in a spiritual way through insightful bible studies. It is our mission to address the spiritual and intellectual needs of our people through tutorial programs which enhances leadership potential that enrich the lives of today needs. It is our mission to provide emotional support to our people through counsel and outlets for healing through activities and outreach ministries. It is our mission to provide social support to our members with action bringing together families and friends seasonally.
Bethel A.M.E. Church of the greater Greensboro area will strive to be the church of choice for all people seeking a traditional Christian experience in a friendly atmosphere through Bible based ministries, programs and services. We will serve people of all ages, in order to spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and enlarge the Christian community.
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Widows Ministries
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