The AME Church Continues To Thrive In The Dominican Republic

Presiding Elder Abraham Rodriguez Jones, 16th Episcopal District

The African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic held its 95th Annual Conference section at Bethel AME Church, Samana, which was presided over by the bishop of the 16th Episcopal District Marvin Zanders and the Supervisor Winifred Zanders. After two years, without holding a face-to-face conference due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to successfully hold it from February 9-12, 2023.

Among the most significant events that we can highlight are:

The pastoral ministry was strengthened with the Annual Sermon preached by the conference secretary, the Rev. Margarito Rodriguez. His text was taken from 1 Kings 18: 42-44 with the theme “When We See Nothing” in whose sermon he pointed out the importance of talking to God as Elijah did instead of having a banquet as Ahab did, so that when times of drought come, we can follow the line of the prophet, in obedience.

Certainly, we were edified, and it is remarkable the extraordinary quality of the teaching that the bishop brought on how to make the church grow and how to keep the people who come. In the same way, he gave us the key to prosper by paying our tithes and offerings. Our Bishop Zanders emphasized that when we pay our tithes and give our offerings we are blessed.

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Charity Golf Tournament Renamed The Dr. Stan McKenzie Golf Classic

Reverend Tyronda Howse Burgess, Presiding Elder, Greater Dallas District, AME Church

The setting was the picturesque greens of the Tenison Highlands Golf Course in Dallas, Texas; the weather was perfect as eighty-eight golfers and volunteers gathered for the 10th annual charity golf tournament hosted by TenthFuture, Inc. Prior to the shotgun start of the tournament, everyone gathered for a ceremonial renaming of the tournament to the Dr. Stan McKenzie Classic Golf Tournament; named in honor of Dr. Stan McKenzie, former Episcopal supervisor of the Tenth Episcopal District, avid golfer, and founding board member of TenthFuture, Inc.

On hand to celebrate the tournament renaming were Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr., presiding prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District and the senior bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and Bishop (Retired) Vashti Murphy McKenzie, former presiding prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District and founder of TenthFuture, Inc. During the renaming ceremony, Bishop Richardson greeted the crowd and stated, “It’s a great day to be outdoors. This is still the church making a witness. The cause is greater than the recreational benefit. I am grateful to all who gave leadership to make today’s event possible and spectacular. To name the tournament in honor of the former Episcopal supervisor of Missions is especially

Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference Holds Annual Conference In Atlanta; Two AMEs Honored With “Beautiful Are Their Feet” Awards

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A Charge To Keep Beyond The Grave

Johnnie Beulah Smith

“Today as never before, the church, you, and I — are witnessing a part of the vast human struggle. It is undoubtedly the most significant struggle the world has ever known. Upon its’ outcome will rest the fate of the human race.

“The African Methodist Episcopal Church has been interested in the religious life of the people and other phases of life, particularly in the fields of education and journalism, to name a couple. Each of these fields reminds us of the significance of understanding our history through the stories of our experiences.

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Historically, the Black Church is the organizing ground for applied revolutionary and liberating theologies. From the hush harbors to the first established black denomination, black people have embodied and personified faith in our being as heirs of

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April 2023

“Public news outlets do not broadly share the bright side of the Black race. Instead, it shares mistakes, misfortunes, crimes, and weaknesses, while its abilities and worthwhile achievements are too often overlooked and go unmentioned. It is left to the Black community to show the world what it is doing and what it can do to promote our society’s welfare.

While each church’s history may be clear to some, we must use our God-given talents to set down in writing our history for coming generations. This effort is not an attempt to criticize or eulogize, as one writer put it, but to give the facts and let them tell their own story.

St. Paul AME Church in Florence, South Carolina, is reportedly our oldest church south of the MasonDixon Line. Oak Grove AME Church was established a few years later. After serving one year as the pastor

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Submissions: articles@thechristianrecorder.com of Oak Grove, the Rev. E.C. Wallace came at the request of some members in this area to plant a church. They had the vision to organize Mt. Zion AME Church. We have been on the AME Conference role for 93 years. We ask God’s divine guidance to steer us along paths of righteousness. We thank and praise God for bountiful blessings, however unworthy we are. ❏ ❏ ❏

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