Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.—Isaiah 43:19
Members, friends, and Kingdom Partners of Houston-based Wesley A.M.E. Church gathered June 6-8, 2025, for a “Season of Celebration” in recognition of the congregation’s new 18,000-sq. ft. ministry and worship facility, located nine miles south of its former historic Third Ward site.
During the weekend observance, Pastor John F. White II and Co-Pastor Maria Mallory White welcomed worshipers to the new Wesley, located at 12850 Cityscape Avenue in Houston, marking the completion of the construction project that began in December 2023.
“This ‘Kingdom Construction’ will be a tool to do ministry for 21st Century discipleship and outreach,” said Pastor White.
Taking part in the celebration, Dr. Mia Wright, co-pastor of Houston’s Fountain of Praise, preached Friday night from Matthew 13:27-30, “What Is the Church and What Grows in the Church?”
The Saturday morning service featured Gospel music artist Kirisma Evans as guest psalmist. Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Presiding Prelate of the 10th Episcopal District preached “In the Lord’s House: The Church still Matters” from Psalm 122:1, and he formally dedicated the new building.
The celebration weekend culminated with Pentecost Sunday morning worship. Retired Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson Jr., who assigned the Whites to Wesley in December 2023, preached “The Memory Ministry of Holy Spirit” from John 14:25-26.
Located on four and half acres, construction of the new Wesley began in mid-December 2023. The exterior of the new facility boasts 127 parking spaces and a covered drive-thru drop-off lane to shield worshipers from inclement weather.
Construction began with members of Wesley sprinkling the site with anointing oil and covering it in prayer. Next, members placed more than 200 Bibles in the new building’s foundation and concrete was then poured—securing the structure’s base on the Word of God. The pulpit Bible from the previous location was placed under the new pulpit.
Upon completion of the interior framing, Wesley members inscribed on the drywall throughout the building with Bible verses and placed prayer cards and poured anointing oil at the base of each wall. “The Word of God, prayer, and anointing were embedded literally in the new church’s infrastructure,” acknowledged Co-Pastor Mallory White. Another 200 Bibles were sealed in the concrete base of the parking lot.
The completed worship and ministry complex includes a sanctuary with a 25-ft. LED wall flanked by two 15-ft. LED screens; state-of-the-art multimedia and sound equipment; and detachable seating that will accommodate flexible, multi-use configurations. Rooms in the new facility were named after Biblical Characters and Places and the signage of each room has a QR Code with a mini-movie explaining the significance of each room in Biblical History. Altogether, the construction and land for the new ministry and worship complex totaled $6 million.
Retired Bishop and Episcopal Supervisor John F. and Penny H. White; Retired Bishop and Episcopal Supervisor Gregory and Jessica Ingram; and Wesley member Retired Episcopal Supervisor Claytie Davis Sr. attended the celebration.
In addition, Presiding Elders Brenda Payne and Juan R. Tolliver were among the numerous 10th Episcopal District clergy and other attendees throughout the weekend.
Retired Rev. Leo Griffin and Evangelist Mary Griffin, who preceded the Whites as Wesley’s pastoral team, also shared in the celebration, the fulfillment of Rev. Griffin’s vision to move the church into the pathway of Houston’s explosive population growth.
Presiding Elder Jerry Motaung of the 19th Episcopal District shared in the dedication weekend, as did members of the White family as well as clergy, friends, and Kingdom Partners from across the connection.
Wesley has long been an historic pillar in the city of Houston. Both congregation and clergy over the years have played pivotal roles of leadership on the local, state, and national levels.
Since its founding in 1869, the people of Wesley previously have worshiped in several locations in Houston’s historically Black community. The congregation’s most recent building in the city’s historic Third Ward will be the site of a new Gospel Music Museum.
