The Reverend Dr. Elmer S. Martin And The Last Decade Of Greater Allen AME Church

Judith Edna Earley

One hundred and twenty-two years after its birth in September 1892, Greater Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio, welcomed the Reverend Elmer S. Martin in November 2014. While the appointment was the fulfillment of a career-long dream, the new pastor had little time to marvel at the goodness of God; he was focused on the scripture God had given him (Nehemiah 3) and the command to “rebuild the wall.”

Fiscal transparency became a hallmark of the Reverend Martin’s handling of the church’s finances; under his direction, the church’s credit rating improved significantly. From day one, Pastor Martin began updating the property by authorizing repairs to the driveway and cutting down dying trees adjacent to the building. He continued his pred ecessors’ goals of acquiring abandoned properties in the immediate square block by paying off the property taxes and demolishing empty houses; the former Pollack Building next door, which had housed Greater Allen from 1952 – 1979, was torn down to provide additional parking. In August of 2018, property that was originally 19 individual lots was officially consolidated into one lot under the church’s name and address. Freezing temperatures in February 2015 caused pipes to burst in the Charles L. Scott Fellowship Hall; hundreds of gallons of water poured into the facility for over five hours before officials could turn it off. Pastor Martin continued to provide godly leadership during the extensive renovations to the fellowship hall and adjacent classrooms. In addition, the Young People’s Division and Girl Scouts enthusiastically took on the renovation of the Ethel C. Prear Library as a project; the updated and streamlined result was dedicated after service on Sunday, December 11, 2016.

The theme of rebuilding the wall continued to gather steam. The church purchased new carpeting for the entire facility in 2017. The sanctuary was also enhanced with new lighting, refurbishment of the pews, new paint on the interior walls, and wood treatment for the pews and railings; ceilings were also refinished, floors repaired, and new furniture purchased for the vestibule. The kitchen in the fellowship hall was remodeled and updated with custom-built cabinets and granite countertops. Repairs to the church roof have been an ongoing project. The uninvited raccoons were evicted from the attic and have yet to return to date.

While the work on the church property progressed, Greater Allen hosted the graduation ceremony for Payne Theological Seminary in May 2017. The pastor and Associate Minister Lucinda V. Burgess honored graduates that evening. Later that year, at the Ohio-South Ohio Annual Conference in October, Greater Allen was transferred from the Dayton District to the Columbus-Springfield-Xenia District. Additionally, during that time, Greater Allen adopted a struggling sister church, Upshaw AME Church, and the Rev. Dr. Martin was named its pastor. For over a year, he held regular Sunday service at Upshaw at 9:00 a.m. before serving at Greater Allen at 10:45 a.m. Eventually, Upshaw’s final few members joined Greater Allen, and the building was closed and sold.

During the next two years, the church’s food pantry flourished with a partnership with the local area food bank. The church parking lot was repaved, and in the fall of 2019, Greater Allen hosted a highly successful

...From 150 Years p8 walked back there, their heals poked through.” annual conference. A new structure housing the church van and additional storage space was built and dedicated in the names of two of Greater Allen’s most faithful members.

The early months of 2020 brought massive changes as the Coronavirus pandemic surged around the world. Two weeks before Easter, the bishop instructed all AME churches to close their doors out of an abundance of caution. Greater Allen then began the great adventure of offering its mostly senior congregation Sunday school, worship service, and Bible study online through a combination of Facebook Live, Zoom, and telephone dial-in. While the doors were closed to community worship, Dr. Martin installed a new air purification system and instituted a process for online giving.

Greater Allen remained closed for two years, but the pastor never lost touch with his members. Information was disseminated through frequent robocalls and a beautiful monthly newsletter edited by First Lady Mrs. Patricia Martin. When in-person worship finally returned, strict rules were implemented, including sign-in at the door, no admission without proof of vaccination, and a mask mandate. Pews were roped off to ensure worshippers maintained a minimum six-foot separation, and communion was served using pre-filled juice and wafer cups.

Greater Allen AME Church has thrived spiritually, physically, and fiscally under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Elmer S. Martin. However, only time will reveal the next step in God’s plan for his faithful servant. ❏ ❏ ❏

The University of Phoenix and Baptist Health in Jacksonville have donated office furniture. The sanctuary now has monitors so e veryone can see and hear Pernell’s sermons, including those who watch on the church’s website.

“The church is available to all,” Pernell said. “Whites and Blacks started this church. I know we’re an African Methodist Episc opal Church, but everyone is welcome. If Whites and Blacks can worship together, we can build this church … and we can build this community.”

At the same time, Gonzalez said it’s important to preserve the church’s rich history and culture.

Clay Today has joined the Mt. Zion CDC to help them find sponsors to celebrate the church’s legacy of service and faith. To be part of the guide to acknowledge the last 150 years – and the next 150 – contact Clay Today at (904) 264-3200. ❏ ❏ ❏

March 2023

and participated again at their 50 th. Other ministers who offered prayers were the Reverend Allen Parrot, the Reverend Jack Lewis, Jr., and the Reverend Robert K. White, who also participated in the silver anniversary celebration.

The couple was escorted by their grandchildren, Amir and Nylah, with their son Andrew Hugine III, and his wife Karen and Akilah Elmore and her son Kal-el serving at the anniversary wedding party. Special guests included the wedding party from 1972: Brenda Perkins, Benita Brown, Martha Adams, Theresa Hamilton, Walter Fields, and Isiah Hamilton III. Sadie and Steven Jarvis of Orangeburg, South Carolina offered toasts for the past; Brenda and Stefanie Davis of Huntsville, Alabama for the present; and Jasmine Brown and Delvin Brown, godchildren of the couple, for the future.

Sheniece Smith, pianist, provided music for the program, Deborah Frazier sang “Center of My Joy,” for the entrance, and Benjamin Abraham was the DJ. The couple’s first dance was to “Just as Long as You Need Me” by the Independents, the first record Andrew gave to Abbiegail, and concluded with “Loving You Is Sweeter than Ever” by the Four Tops, Abbiegail’s favorite group.

Over 200 guests viewed many artifacts, including Abbie’s wedding dress, the 1972 and 1997 cake toppers, videos, and pictures of the couple. Cecil Williams, who took Abbiegail’s 1972 wedding dress portrait, was the event photographer. To commemorate the milestone, Andrew gave Abbiegail a specially designed triband diamond ring with the three bands representing the couple with God at the center; forever love— past, present, and future; and the five center cluster diamonds denoting their five decades of marriage.

Dr. and Mrs. Hugine are members of St. John AME Church in Huntsville, Alabama. ❏ ❏ ❏ quest toward securing a revenue-generating property dedicated to relieving some of the financial burdens of local congregations who are paying into the general budget. For many, the hope of that financial possibility inspired their support for the project. With 17 suites and over 90% capacity, several churches have already begun to reap the property’s revenue benefits. “Valerie Faith Gary Bell’s life of service epitomizes the excellence we have committed to the stewardship of this property,” said Dr. Loxley O’Connor, CDC Board director.

...From Second Episcopal p2

The service of dedication/mortgage burning was complete with remarks from Sis. Valerie’s husband, Donald Bell, Sr., Bishop Davis, Bishop John Bryant, Bishop Adam J. Richardson, and several partners in acquiring the building. Of all the remarks, there was this common theme: Sis. Valerie’s work and her leadership spoke for itself. She is the blueprint for excellence among lay members and an inspiration. Her honor is more than deserved. More specifically, in the words of Bro. Donald Bell, Sr., the building forever named for her “is a true testament to Valerie’s legacy coming full circle.”

On February 4, 2020, Sis. Bell transitioned into ancestry and assumed her role as a beacon of light in the great cloud of witnesses, as an ancestral voice and spirit that the sting of death cannot shut out. We do not count her transition as a loss because she remains an extension of God’s heart and love toward us as long as we continue to call her name and tell the story. Let this moment of celebration, honor, and reflection propel us onward to greater, in Jesus’ name.

See keepsake booklet: https://online.flippingbook.com/ view/781109251/

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