150th Anniversary Celebration Information Brochure

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    Historical Sketch of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Churc

    1863-2013The history of Bethel is the history of African Methodism in the state of Arkansas. Founde

    November 22, 1863, Bethels story is intertwined in the history of Little Rock and its people. It beg

    tenacity of a freeman formally of Washington, D.C., named Nathan Warren, a Methodist preacheArkansas in 1859 and returned in 1863 after the Emancipation of our people. Upon his return he lgroup of Negroes in Helena and in L ittle Rock that had been meeting informally as Methodists foyears. This meeting place was the home of Anthony and Lucy Elrod, on the corner of 10th and Spwhich was the 1st home of Campbell Chapel, which we now know as our loving Bethel AME, so nThis informal gathering of people was the spark that began African Methodism in Arkansas. Thithe desire to construct the First Church on 9 th and Broadway in 1866. It was at this Bethel that theArkansas Annual Conference was held, on November 19, 1868. It was in this First Church that Showas founded in 1887, and the 1st WMS in Arkansas, with Mrs. H.E. Carolina as secretary. This spa fire that has given rise to 4 Annual Conferences in Arkansas and Oklahoma, 11 Presiding Elderspastors, and over 200 Churches with over 40,000 members.

    From our humble beginnings, many trail blazers have risen from our house of wor

    Rev. Rufus K. Young, Sr. - Pastor, and Civil Rights ActivistMelba Patillo, Earnest Green

    , Gloria Ray and Carlotta Walls - four of the Little Rock NAttorney Christopher Columbus Mercer- One of the first blacks to receive a law degree from th

    Nine Advisor, and NAACP Field Secretary.Daisy BatesLR Nine Advisor, and Co-Owner of the Arkansas State Press News

    Rodney Slater - Former Secretary of TransportationDr. J.M. RobinsonProminent Physician, Civic Leader, Co-Founder and Presiden

    Arkansas Negro Democratic Association (ANDA).Included among these trailblazers are numerous other influential African American Educa

    Lawyers, Businessmen and Community Leaders that have been, and are members of our historic Our Churchs rich history is intricately intertwined with the development of African Americ

    Little Rock, as well as Arkansas. We can boast that of the 29 ministers that have served Bethel - 1to Presiding Elder, 4 were presidents of Shorter College, and 4 have been elected to the BishopricRev. Blakely and Rev. Young have the distinction of having the longest tenure, with Rev. Young syears. We are blessed to be able to share this 150th celebration with our current pastor, D. Lavel Crwell as with 4 of our former pastors, PE Eugene Brannon, Sr., Rev. TB Lamb, PE Nolan Watson a

    Thomas, Sr. We thank God for their leadership.The spark that began with Nathan Warren, has given rise to 5 houses of worship ov

    the current one which we moved into on June 21, 1970, located at 815 W. 16 th Street in The HistoriQuarter of Little Rock. The sanctuary is surrounded by unique stained glass windows depicting themes from the bible, that are one of a kind artwork found in no other church in the world. Thisthat has been passed down to us that OUR GIANTS want us to remember and carry on for our pothank them for their works, their vision and the spark that gives us light today. Our vision is to bethe world, trailblazing as we serve God and humankind through service, witness, and Kingdom buwill do this as a family church equipping and empowering People for victorious Living to the Glo

    So join us as we celebrate 150 years of Building our Heritage; Faithful to the Prom

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    Fulfilling the Promise

    Thank you in advance for your support. Your tax-

    deductible donation will go towards supporting,

    advancing and creating opportunities to equip

    and empower people for victorious living.