From Hamilton bars to Holy Ghost breakthroughs, Bethel celebrates past, present, and prophetic power.
By Rev. Janette R. Smith, 2nd Episcopal District
History danced with the Holy Spirit this Pentecost Sunday as Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore celebrated its 240th anniversary in a way no one will soon forget.
At the center of this historic homecoming was the return of Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, who pastored Bethel for 28 transformational years before his 2016 elevation to the episcopacy. A fifth-generation AME minister born in Chicago in 1951, Bishop Reid carries a deeply rooted legacy within the African Methodist Episcopal Church. His grandfather, Bishop Frank M. Reid, Sr., and father, Bishop Frank M. Reid, Jr., both served as bishops in the AME Church, making him a rare third-generation bishop in a legacy that spans over a century. Remarkably, this was his first time returning to preach at Bethel since becoming bishop, not due to a lack of invitation, but rather because of hurricanes in Florida, the global pandemic, and the weight of his episcopal responsibilities. Bishop Reid was joined in worship by his wife, Supervisor Marlaa Reid; daughter, Faith Reid—the last “First Family baby” born during his pastorate at Bethel; and his sister, Stephanie Reid. Their engaged presence in the worship experience reminded the congregation of the familial sacrifice and legacy woven into Bethel’s story. Yet his return marked more than a personal milestone—it was the rekindling of a legacy of leadership, passed down and now offered back to the church that helped shape it.
His father, the late Bishop Frank Madison Reid Jr., served as Bethel’s 14th pastor before being elected a bishop in the AME Church. His dynamic ministry set the stage for what would become a generational legacy. Decades later, his son, then Pastor Frank M. Reid, III, would rise from Bethel’s pulpit to Bishop. This generational echo felt especially fitting for Pentecost—a time of divine empowerment, spiritual succession, and bold outpouring.
Legacy Reimagined: Hamilton-Style
The service opened with an electrifying tribute: a spoken word and song mashup inspired by Broadway’s cultural phenomenon Hamilton (watch it here), set to the tune of the title track. This high-energy opener, penned by the author, was performed by Bethel’s youth and young adults. It wove over 200 years of Bethel’s history into two minutes of poetic fire, highlighting AME founders, pastoral legacy, and prophetic Black leadership:
“What’s our name? BETHEL AME IN BALTIMORE… and there’s a million things still in store—just you wait!”
Worship Broke Open the Heavens
From there, the service rose into a powerful atmosphere of worship. Bethel’s Mass Choir, led by Maurette Brown Clark—two-time Stellar Award winner and Dove nominee—delivered an unforgettable rendition of Vincent Bohanan’s “Pentecostal Power.” The sanctuary erupted.
Following a heartfelt prayer by the Rev. Frank Kelly, the sanctuary was gripped by a dramatic, cinematic-level video presentation of Acts 2:1–12. This stirring reenactment of the Day of Pentecost set the atmosphere ablaze. Sis. Barbara, Knox, the 240th Anniversary Committee Chairperson, offered a heartfelt welcome to all and shared upcoming celebration details, reminding that this was not just a service, but a sacred season. The Spirit surged again as the Mass Choir first rendered “Holy Ghost” by the Rev. Milton Brunson, featuring a dynamic solo by Bethel’s Lead Intercessor, the Rev. JaSina Wise, followed by Richard Smallwood’s “Holy Spirit,” masterfully led by Bethel’s Worship & Fine Arts Minister and gospel artist, Jamel Strong. The room trembled with expectancy as voices soared and hearts opened wide.
A Personal and Prophetic Introduction
The Reverend Patrick D. Clayborn, Ph.D., Bethel’s current Senior Pastor, personalized the flow of worship with a testimony about his father’s healing earlier in the week. Fervently and earnestly, he declared:
“If He did it for my father —God will… God will… GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!”
After stirring the congregation with praise and gratitude, Pastor Clayborn reflected on being a Morehouse student, and hearing Dr. Reid for the first time as he preached at a revival in Atlanta, and later on BET. What he could not have imagined then was that 30 years later, he would be Bishop Reid’s successor as Senior Pastor of Bethel, introducing the very man who once sparked his interest in discipleship.
“Now I have the honor of bringing him back before the people of Bethel.”
The Message: Why We Can’t Wait
Preaching from the theme, “Why We Can’t Wait: Repent, Receive, Release the Holy Spirit,” Bishop Reid called the church to radical repentance and revolutionary living. Drawing from Luke 4, Isaiah 61, John 14–16, Acts 1, and Ephesians 3, he outlined three spiritual imperatives:
- Understand the Process and Program of the Holy Spirit
- Embrace the Person and Promise of the Spirit
- Walk in the Power Given to the People
“The Holy Spirit isn’t just for survival. It’s for rebuilding, recovering, and rising. This is your year.”
He urged the congregation to stop settling for performance when the Spirit was meant for purpose:
“If you knew what God brought me through, you’d shout for me. But I’m telling you—it’s the anointing that makes the difference.”
As Bishop Reid concluded his message, the Rev. Patrick D. Clayborn, Ph.D., stepped forward and wrapped him in a powerful embrace—a moment that felt more like an anointing than a gesture. With deep reverence, Pastor Clayborn prayed strength back into the vessel that had just poured out so completely. It was a covering. A blessing. And it broke something open again. Joining in this sacred moment with grace and intercession was Bethel’s current First Lady, the Reverend Dr. Sheri Smith Clayborn, whose prayerful presence throughout the service served as a spiritual anchor. Another wave of healing, fire, and prophetic release rippled through the room.
Altar Call: Overflow and Release
As the message concluded, Pastor Clayborn stepped forward and confirmed what few knew: for weeks, the church had been praying for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He called those longing for a breakthrough to the altar.
What followed was a wind that refused to quit.
For over an hour, people wept, spoke in tongues, worshipped, and surrendered. Ministers anointed, intercessors prayed, and voices called out, “Holy Spirit, be released.” It was more than emotional worship—it was deliverance, clarity, and some flowing in a new spiritual language.
A Legacy Honored
Before the close, Bishop Reid honored his predecessor, Bishop John R. Bryant—another spiritual giant who served as the pastor of Bethel and was later elevated to bishop from its pulpit. Like Reid, Bryant followed in the footsteps of his own father, creating a historic father-son line of episcopal succession. Pentecost Sunday also marked Bishop Bryant’s birthday, a divine alignment that stirred the sanctuary. Bishop Reid celebrated him as the one who reintroduced Holy Spirit fire to African Methodism and reminded the congregation of Bethel’s sacred role as a launching pad for transformational ministry.
Bishop Reid then invited the congregation to sow into the moment with gifts in honor of the 240th Anniversary, urging support for Bethel’s sacred legacy and continued transformation into a center for healing and empowerment.
A Final Benediction
Bishop Reid stood once more, blessing the church with these parting words:
“May the Lord bless you, keep you, and give you peace, power, and prosperity—for the rest of your life.”
It was a day when past, present, and prophetic collided. And for those who gathered in the sanctuary or joined online, one truth remains: the Spirit still moves at Bethel!
We invite you to celebrate this legacy with us! Join us in worship any Sunday, and don’t miss our Black Tie Gala—an evening of excellence, legacy, and fellowship.
Bethel AMEC Baltimore 240th Anniversary Dates to Remember:
- October 26 – Church Anniversary Service with Bishop John R. Bryant, Guest Preacher
- November 14 – Anniversary Gala at Martin’s Valley Mansion
Get Gala Tickets Here
Donate to the 240th Fund – Community Center Rebuild
The Reverend Janette R. Smith is the Director of Church Growth, Bethel AME Church, Baltimore.
Happy 240th Anniversary Bethel!