PASTOR'S PEN - 3
CHURCH HISTORY - 4-5
ELDER CHADWRICK'S BIO - 6-7
THE PROGRAM - 8-9
THE CALL TO WORSHIP - 10
NOTES - 11
WORDS FROM THE CHAIR
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not whither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." - Psalm 1:3
I am excited as we celebrate the 108th Church Anniversary here at Bethel A.M.E. Church! God just continues to bless us over and over again. As a Church Family, we continue to grow in spirit and in truth.
As we celebrate this 108th Church Anniversary, we are reminded of this reality; we are a testament of God's grace. I believe that God is about to unveil a new realm of glory in our lives. As we look towards the future, we will strengthen the existing ministries and establish new ones. We can do it because God is with us. Our prayer will be "Not our will, but THY will be done."
Our Church has been blessed of God, not because we have earned it or because God likes us better than someone else, but we have been blessed for the purpose of greater service to our God and community.
As we continue to move forth, let us move with the blessed assurance of God's presence with us and with the knowledge that we can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens us.
Our theme..."Celebrating 108 years of serving Christ, the Church and Community” simply means that we are duty bound to embrace the reality that we are “ALL THE WAY LIVE ON 165!”God has great plans for Bethel A.M.E. Church and those plans continue with you and I!
Grace and Peace, “Pastor B”
The Bethel A.M.E. Church, as we know it today, was founded in the year of 1915 under the name, Flat Rock, which was a small wooden building. In 1918, the wooden building was destroyed by a storm. During the time the church was being rebuilt, services were being held in various places throughout the community.
In 1924, the building was replaced by a block building. The officers at that time were W.H. Harper, L.W. Williams, Willie Gordon, and Walter Carnes; Rev. J. B. Johnson was the pastor.
In 1929, a parcel of land was issued to the Bethel A.M.E. Church for the sum of $10.00 from Frank J. Bickerstaff and R. H. Bickerstaff. Some years after receiving a clear title deed to the church it was destroyed by fire. Some services were held at our neighboring church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and some were held at the community school, Brickyard Elementary.
In 1954, under the leadership of Rev. William B. Davis, the present building was built by Rev. Walker, with the men of the community and all employees of Bickerstaff Clay Products donating bricks.
Under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Z. D. Hardwick, there became a need for expansion. During this time, the fellowship hall and the Sunday School assembly hall were built by the late Bro. Robert McAdoo. As the years of growth and progression proceeded under the spiritual leadership and supervision of Rev. J. W. Ezekiel, the sanctuary was enlarged and the work of an overall renovation of the entire church had begun by Mr. Willie Russ. A continuation of the renovations and purchasing of the land adjacent to our property was completed and finalized under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Johnnie Walton.
In January of 1995, additional renovations began including another enlargement of the sanctuary and choir stand. There was a facial uplift done to the front of the church, which consisted of the addition of two rooms and two bathrooms.
Upon completion in October, the church was favored by a new look which included a newly repaved parking lot, a dry-vit stucco finish, and a new roof. After, the completion of these renovations there was a church dedication program held in February 1996. Finally, in November of 1999, new windows were purchased.
On February 24, 2002, at the 89th Church Anniversary, the mortgage burning ceremony was held for the renovations that occurred in 1995. A cornerstone was laid for the annex in front of the church by Phenix Lodge #428, also on that date. The new sanctuary was completed, and the first church service was held on May 21, 2006. The dedication service was held Sunday, September 3, 2006, with Bishop T Larry Kirkland, the presiding prelate of the 9th Episcopal District.
The dedication ceremony for the first Children’s Church was held on January 31, 2011, under the leadership of Evangelist Amanda Grooms.
The Fellowship Hall was dedicated to Rev. Johnnie L Walton at the church anniversary held on February 24, 2013.
Past and Present Pastors: Rev. Dixon, Rev. Wright, Rev. Stallings, Rev. Ponce, Rev. L. Phillips, Rev. Hayward Phillips, Rev. Griffin, Rev. Cumming, Elder Harris, Rev. Jakes, Rev. Jones, Rev. W. B. Johnson, Rev. Forester, Rev. J.B. Davis, Rev. Lewis Williams, Rev. Z.D. Hardwick, Rev. James W. Ezekiel, Rev. Johnnie L. Walton, Rev. Jessie L. Grooms and presently serving since October 2021, Rev. Brandon Thorn
Pastor Wardell Chadwrick is a native of Phenix City, Alabama. He is the fifth son born to the late Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Chadwrick. He received his formative education in Phenix City, Alabama and is a graduate of Mt. Olive High School in Fort Mitchell, Alabama.
In September 1967, he moved to Miami Florida. In 1968, after joining the Macedonia Church of God in Christ, he was called into ministry. He was blessed from within Macedonia to find that “good thing”, his wife, the late Missionary Annie Golatt Chadwrick. This union was rewarded with multiplied blessings, their two sets of twins: Vincent, Vickki, Michelle, and Michael.
Pastor Chadwrick has been gifted in the following capacities:
• He is an army man having served two years during the Vietnam War (1969-71)
• He is an educated man whose insatiable desire to better himself motivated him to work for and receive an Associate of Arts Degree from Miami-Dade Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from Florida International University.
• He is a Bible wizard who received training from South Florida Theological Seminary, Charles Harrison Mason Bible College and naturally, independent studies with God.
• He was employed for over thirty (30) years in various areas of social work for the Florida State Department of Human Resources and Miami-Dade County Department of Human Services. Recently, he retired as Program Supervisor for the Miami-Dade County Homeless Assistance Program.
• He has worked positions. Name the budget comm Superintendent class and Assista moved him up t the New Life Ch the Chairman an District for seve Eastern Florida which he serves
Empowerment
• He is the Super First Administra
Eastern Ecclesia
• He is the autho
“Don’t Just Sit T
• He has a Week
Miami, Florida
Pastor Chadwrick is a family man, devoted to his new wife, Karla and their children: Vincent (Tracy), Vickki, Michelle, Michael, Phillip and Yvette. He is the proud grandfather of Kaleb, Kennedi, and Nyobee. His life reflects an unwavering commitment to God, Family and Ministry.
The Order of Worship
The Worship Leader Sister Deborah Jones
The Musical Prelude
The Processional
The Doxology
The Call to Celebration Pastor Brandon L. Thornton
The Song of Praise
“We’ve Come This Far by Faith”
Chorus:
We’ve come this far by faith, Leaning on the Lord, Trusting in His Holy Word, He's never failed us --yet. Singin' oh, oh, oh, can't turn a-round, we've come this far by faith.
Verse:
Don't be discouraged when troubles come your -way. He'll bear your burdens and turn your nights into day.
The Invocation Reverend Willie Lyles
Choral Response: "Completely Yes" Yes, Lord, yes, Lord, From the bottom of my heart To the depths of my soul. Yes, Lord, completely yes; My soul says yes
The Scriptures
Old Testament Reverend Douglas Lyles
New Testament Reverend Regena Williams
The Ministry of e Lyles Family Choir
The Historical Presentation
The Occasion Br
The Ministry of Music Th
The Offering Bethel A.M
The Presentation of the P Elder Vincent Chadwr
The Solo S
The Preached Word Elder
The Invitation to Christian D
The Ministry of Music T
The Remark Pastor
Grace and Benediction
~ Dinner will be serve
Program Coordinato
Sister Yolanda Joseph, Cha
Sister Patricia Malone, Co-Ch
t Worship the Lord in the Beauty of O Come, Let us kneel before the Lord Lord’s doing, and it is Marvelous in Our wooden building named Flat Rock, to elopment and blossoming of the ethodist Episcopal Church over one t years. ah, My soul doth magnify the Lord, and iced in God my Savior. gels and archangels, and with all the n, we laud and magnify thy glorious raising thee saying… oly, Lord God of host, heaven and hy glory. Glory be to thee O Lord most
