Giving God Our Very Best: The Bethel AME Church Journey to Resurrection Sunday
By Barbara R. Cotton, 11thEpiscopal District
Motivated by its 2018 church theme, “Giving God Our Very Best,” the Bethel AME Church in Tallahassee, Florida, led by the Rev. Dr. Julius H. McAllister, Jr., who is the senior minister, embarked on a 40-day period of spiritual reawakening, repentance, and growth as members prepared to celebrate God’s glorious resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. The Lenten journey included Sunday worship services, a Lenten Worship Series, fasting and prayer, Bible study, acts of charity, and a call to faithful service to the Lord through church ministry.
Bethel began its spiritual journey on Ash Wednesday. The message was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Eric C. Little, Jr., an associate minister. In addition to the Imposition of the Ashes symbolizing repentance and mortality, the service included an invitation for members to bring their written petitions and concerns to the altar, where the Rev. McAllister lifted them up in prayer before Almighty God.
Ash Wednesday was followed by a weekly Tuesday night worship service. Bethel and surrounding communities were blessed with the powerful preaching of outstanding ministers of the Gospel including: the Rev. Marvin Zanders of St. Paul AME Church in Jacksonville, Florida; the Rev. Dr. Marcus Cosby of Wheeler Street Baptist Church in Houston, Texas; the Rev. Dr. Patrick Clayborn from Bethel AME Church in Baltimore, Maryland; the Rev. Stanley Walker from Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida; the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss from Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois; and the Rev. William Lamar, IV from Metropolitan AME Church in Washington, DC.
On Easter Sunday, the congregation was blessed with inspiring messages by two presiding elders of the 11thEpiscopal District: the Rev. Joyce Moore, presiding elder for the St. Petersburg District, West Coast Conference, and the Rev. Jessie Harding, Jr., presiding elder for the St. Petersburg District, West Conference. On the Tuesday in Easter Week, the Rev. McAllister called the congregation together in a “Thank God I Made It” service to celebrate and praise God for successfully guiding them through their journey of spiritual rejuvenation and transformation. The message, “We Have Victory,” was delivered by Pastor Smokey Norful from Victory Cathedral Church in Chicago, IL.
Throughout the Lenten period of renewal, Bethel choirs and guest choruses magnified the preached Word and enhanced worship with beautiful anthems, sacred hymns, soulful spirituals, and moving praise songs that glorified God, lifted spirits, and stirred hearts. On Easter morning, the Caleb Generation Choir (ages 3-12) rivaled the Mississippi Mass Choir with their electrifying rendering of “It Wasn’t the Nails.”
In addition to the Lenten Worship Series, the Rev. McAllister led the congregation through a sequence of spiritual exercises contained in the Daniel Plan. Inspired by the Prophet Daniel, who refused to defile his body with food forbidden by Mosaic Law, the plan called for a period of fasting. For 40 days, participating members were encouraged to focus their spirit, heart, and mind, upon God while denying themselves specified food and drink. They gradually eliminated certain foods from their diets, ending, by day 35, with a diet of only fruit, vegetables, and water. Moreover, the Plan called for members to devote themselves to scheduled prayer three times daily, regular attendance at Sunday worship services and Church School, acts of service, and designated daily reading of Scripture.
As members examined their inner selves, asking God to reveal ways to live more fruitful lives, they were reminded of God’s call to be good stewards of their spiritual gifts and God-given talents and abilities by using them to build up the body of Christ. Thus, Ministry Day was held to provide an opportunity for members to acquire a better understanding of what a faithful ministry requires and to explore the many ministry opportunities available at Bethel. The Ministry Day sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Ronald Glenn, another associate minister. A Ministry Fair, held after each worship service, provided opportunities for ministries to display and disseminate information, discuss their mission and goals, and bear witness to how God is making a difference in their lives, in community life, and in the life of Bethel Church.
The Bethel Family was awakened and strengthened by the Lenten Season of repentance and renewal by acquiring a greater awareness and appreciation for the perfect and powerful love expressed in God’s plan of salvation through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. With the unity of spirit and purpose, Bethel continues to work toward greater intimacy with Jesus Christ by learning and living His ways while giving their very best in service to Him and to one another.
