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Community Outreach
Called To Make A Difference! COMMUNITY OUTREACH
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers on mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25: 40
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The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church states that “in every local church, the AME Church shall engage in carrying out the spirit of the original Free African Society, out of which the AME Church evolved: that is, to seek out and save the lost and to serve the needy.” Bethel is indeed grateful to God for the numerous and diverse opportunities placed before us to serve Him as we pursue the AME Church vision.
The Bethel television broadcast, BeTheLite, aired each
Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on WTXL TV, Channel 27, allowing thousands of persons in North Florida and South Georgia to hear the living, transformational Word of God proclaimed.
The Bethel Community Development Corporation (CDC) continued to provide much needed affordable housing for underserved residents in the Tallahassee southside communities. It was awarded
$103,000 from the City of Tallahassee (COT) to build a new home for a 74 year old Tallahassee man whose house suffered major damage from
hurricane Michael. The new home features 962 square feet of living space which includes a living/ dining/kitchen area (equipped with refrigerator and stove), two bedrooms, one full handicap accessible bathroom, and a laundry room, equipped with washer and dryer – gifts from Bethel. It also includes two handicap accessible ramps, and two porches totaling 67 square feet. Commenting on this ministry opportunity, Dr. McAllister noted “that extending the olive branch of love to God’s people shows that His presence prevails in our lives and He uses the household of faith to turn a dream into a reality.”
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Community Outreach
resently, the CDC is renovating two homes at no cost to the residents, and is providing affordable, quality rental property for low income families, as well. Four homes were rehabilitated during the fiscal year. Plans to sponsor the 2020 Affordable Housing Symposium in which persons are exposed to fair and affordable housing opportunities, first time home buyer programs, credit repair, and a host of other affordable housing opportunities, were suspended due to COVID – 19 with plans to reschedule. The CDC is funded through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the City of Tallahassee (COT), and was recently reaccredited by the COT. The Reverend Dr. Julius H. McAllister, Jr.
and the Reverend Herbert Corbin, Jr., serve as Chairman of the Board, and Director of the CDC, respectively.
A Life Recovery Center (ALRC)
The A Life Recovery Center (ALRC), a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility, continued to provide life enhancing treatment for marginalized abusers in the Big Bend counties of North Florida. During the last twelve months the ALRC served one hundred and fifty (150) clients. This number included thirty-three (33) residential treatment clients, four (4) outpatient clients, and one hundred and thirteen (113) Drug Court treatment clients. Sixty-nine
Several Bethel ministries adopted the ALRC as their outreach project and they, along with individual members of the congregation, provided essentials such as gloves, hand sanitizer, personal hygiene items and other vital supplies. Realizing the positive impact of a safe, comfortable living environment
environment on the self-esteem and motivation of residential clients in search of a successful transition back to the community, Dr. McAllister, Chairman of the Board of Directors, initiated an extensive makeover of the physical facilities. Restorations and repairs included the following: the replacement of the roof, carpet in the administration building, and light fixtures in the administration and residential buildings. The ceiling tile, table, chairs, sofas, blinds, curtains, toilet, and shower fixtures were replaced. Interior and exterior floors were either painted or pressure washed. Also, new computers and other office equipment were purchased. Thanks to Dr.
McAllister, the Reverend James Houston, Director of the ALRC, the outstanding ALRC staff and volunteers, and the great people of Bethel for their outstanding commitment to providing a path for substance abuse victims to overcome their addictions and re-enter society with self-confidence and hope for successful living.
Community Outreach
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hrough its annual Thanksgiving Basket Program (November 8-9), Bethel continued to put the church theme, “Called to Make a Different,” into practice. Under the leadership of the Church School, 350 baskets, filled with turkey and ingredients to provide a full thanksgiving meal for 2,800 people, were distributed. This number included baskets for Bethel’s sick and shut-in members, personally delivered by members of the Board of Stewards. Over 150 volunteers, including Bethelites and college students, played an invaluable role in the success of this effort! Volunteers expressed their pleasure for the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Jaelore Faison, a sophomore psychology major at Florida A&M University, described her experience as follows: Today, I had the honor of assisting Bethel AME Church of Tallahassee, in their annual Thanksgiving Drive. The early morning (We got up at 4:00 a.m.) was full of laughs, love, and of course some muscle work from very genuine individuals that obviously have a desire to help! I’m thrilled that my brilliant African American History professor, Dr. Kyle Harris, decided to share this event with the class and allowed us to experience this incredible opportunity. Seeing people in the community smiling ear to ear because they knew for sure their family would have a meal for Thanksgiving honestly brought me to tears a couple of times throughout the morning but also allowed me to take a moment to appreciate what I have. I can’t wait until next year. The theme of this year’s community outreach effort was “Bethelites
Caring and Sharing: Love Makes the Difference.”
Coordinating Committee – Sister Connie JenkinsPye, chair, Sisters Gerri Wynn and Cassandra Jenkins, co-chairs, and Brother Aundra Bryant, Assis-
tant Church School Superintendent. The Families Reaching Families Christmas Gift
Program, under the leadership of the Daughters of Sarah Allen, provided gifts to 51 families (173 persons) in need. Families were recommended by local social services agencies and Bethel members. We are grateful to the Daughters of Sarah Allen for planning and facilitating this annual ministry experience cochaired by Sisters Barbara Kelly and Eartha Lamar.
Prior to the onset of the Coronavirus, the Elkins/ Williams Women’s Missionary Society, under the presidency of Sister Sylvia Petties, prepared and served approximately 200 hot lunches to the homeless each month at the Kearney Homeless Shelter.
The Bethel Mentor/Volunteer Ministry mentored/ volunteered a total of seventy (70) hours and fifteen (15) minutes in the public schools of Leon County during the 2019-2020 school year. However, the work of this outreach ministry was cut short on March 23 when schools were closed due to the Coronavirus. Thanks to Brother William Lamar and members of the Mentor/Volunteer Ministry for letting their lights and talents shine by motivating and providing incentives for our young people to improve themselves academically and personally.
Special thanks to Church School Superintendent, Sister Debra Austin, and the Thanksgiving Basket
Community Outreach T he Black History Committee represented Bethel as one of thirty (30) partners on the Steering Committee of the Tallahassee Community Remembrance Project that “seeks to rePeace and Justice in Montgomery. On July 8, the Tallahassee City Council approved the request for the monument and narrative marker that will be located at the site of the Old Leon County Jail member and acknowledge past and present racial vio- on the corner of East Gaines and Meridian Streets. lence and injustice in Tallahassee, Leon County, Flori- “Neither Forgotten Nor Repeated.” da, and to inspire the community to come together for dialogue, education, understanding, action and ulti- Members of the Black History Committee also mately, for healing and trust.” Working with the Equal joined the Community Remembrance Project, My Justice Initiative (EJI) in Montgomery, Alabama, the 54 Walk, in recognition of civil rights icons John Community Remembrance Project gained approval of a Lewis and C. T. Vivian. The goal was to walk at Historical Marker that will recognize the four known least fifty-four miles, the distance of the 1965 officially recorded victims of lynching in Leon County march from Selma to Montgomery, AL. Together, between 1897 and 1937 – Mike Morris, Pierce Taylor, the group of twenty-eight multigenerational walkErnest Ponder, and Richard Hawkins. On February 28, ers covered 81.5 miles. Black History Committee a Soil Collection Ceremony was held at the site of the walkers included Brother Kenneth Austin and old Leon County Jail with local elected officials, EJI rep- Sister Mamie Jones. Sister Mara Ford-Jones representatives, and over two hundred citizens in attend- resented the Commission on Health. ance, including BBHC members and the Reverend Dr.
Eric Little, Bethel Associate Minister, who provided The 14th Annual Day of Dialogue on Minority
the prayer and blessing of the soil. Soil collected at the Health (DoDMH) was hosted by Bethel AME site will be displayed at the National Memorial for Commission on Health, Saturday, February 22, 2020. Sister Marva Ford-Jones, Commission Chair, welcomed more than 150 individuals and vendors to the event. The theme was “ Circle of Abundant Life: Health at Every Stage.” The goals of the program were to identify chronic health conditions and diseases affecting African Americans in Leon County, provide information on available community agencies/resources in the county that address these conditions, and share successful strategies utilized in churches to improve the health status of congregations and the community. On-site health screenings were conducted, and vendors were available to showcase
Day of Dialogue Diabetes Workshop Dr. Otis Kirksey
Community Outreach
community resources and services. General sessions included an overview of health status in Leon County, explanation of the Five Wishes Document, and how mental health, diabetes, and heart are linked to nutrition management. The Pastor’s Roundtable “Strengthening Church Based Health:
Initiating, Developing, and Achieving Results,”
was moderated by the Reverend Dr. Frank McDon-
ald, Pastor, Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist
Church. Panelists discussed successful strategies used in their respective congregations to encourage members to pursue healthy lifestyles as a priority. Dr. McAllister offered a testimonial on how his family ’ s adoption of healthy eating habits positively affected their overall quality of life. The program closed with a “Charge to Health Ministries” by Dr.
Barbara Thomas-Reddick. In response to Dr. McAllister’s request for “a few good men “to help inspire and connect with a group of local middle school male students, over thirty men of Bethel joined him on October 15, at the 2nd Gentleman’s Tie Day held by Nims Middle
School. Along with other church leaders and school and city government officials, the Bethel men provided ties for male students and taught them how to tie them. Organizers suggest that wearing ties enhance self-image and good deportment among young boys. Among the individuals who spoke to the students about preparation and success were
Mayor John Daily, School Superintendent Rocky
Hanna, and School Board member Darryl Jones. Reverend Julius thanked Bethel participants for their act of love, and advised that “there is more work to be done.”
The D0DMH includes churches from eight counties in north Florida. Bethel members of the Steering Committee include: Dr. Fred Seaman, Chairperson; Dr. Penny Ralston, Founder; Dr. Elsie Crowell, Cofounder and Treasurer, and Dr. Jackie Robinson, Evaluator. Dark clouds, fierce wind, and a torrential downpour did not prevent the YPD and other ministries from holding the 3rd Annual Hallelujah Night – Trunk or Treat on October 30th. After the stormy weather subsided, approximately 200 children and adults from Bethel and the community gathered to enjoy
Nims Middle School Gentleman’s Tie Day Dr. McAllister
Trunk or Treat—Decoration Ministry
fun, food, and fellowship on Halloween Night. Once again, this event was used as an evangelism tool. Organizations chose themes such as “Jesus, the Light of the World” and “Soap Can Cleanse the Body, but only Jesus can Wash Away our Sins,” in decorating their cars, and distributed bookmarks, stick-on tattoos, and religious cartoons. Many thanks to First Lady Deana McAllister and Sister Marie Riou for providing the leadership for this ministry experience, and to the many Bethel ministries and organizations for their enthusiastic support and participation.
The Commission on Health showcased its programs and activities at the Florida State University Center on Better Health and the Life Health for Hearts United
Leadership Institute.
Community Outreach
Through its Newborn Babies Project, the Daugh-
ters of Sarah Allen donated clothes, blankets, and other baby essentials to mothers in need at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. The ministry’s Mentoring Program involved a variety of activities for members and mentees. They included a bowling outing at Capital Lanes, the viewing of “Mary Poppins” at the Young Adult Theatre and the viewing of “Frozen” at the AMC Theatre. Also, in March, Women’s History Month, Sister Carolyn Elkins gave a presentation on the historical contributions of women.
Stewardess Board #2, in conjunction with the City of Tallahassee and the Smith Williams Service Center, donated clothing and household items to needy families in the community. Stewardess Board #2 is under the dedicated leadership of Sisters Wanda Ford and Tracy Mathis.
With the assistance of church members, Stewardess Board #4, under the leadership of Sister Florida Dobson, donated over 300 pairs of socks to the Tallahassee Homeless Shelter. Also, in partnership with the Elkins/Williams Missionary Society, the board contributed 6,114 diapers and 2,396 baby wipes to Brehon Family Services. The board was joined in their diaper donation project by Sam’s Club of Tallahassee, which donated 3,588 diapers from its inventory. Special thanks to Ms. Una Waters of Sam’s Club who made the donation possible. Additionally, members attended and contributed a $75.00 offering to the Mount Pisgah
Stewardess Board Program.
Daughters of Sara Allen New Born Babies Project
Community Outreach
Stewardess Board #3 Clothes Give-Away—Brenda Randolph, Vivian Browdy, Mary Allen, Wanda Ford, Teretha Harrison, Tracy Mathis, Frances James
The N. Z. Graham Board, under the leadership of Sister Everline Hamm, donated blankets to the Davita Dialysis Center. Partnering with them was Usher Board #2, chaired by Sister Flora Hall.
The A.J. Kershaw Board contributed $200.00 to the A Life Recovery Center to purchase cleaning supplies for the administration building and the dormitory. The board also supported the American Cancer Society with a $200.00 donation to purchase wigs for cancer victims; and fifteen members contributed $40.00 each to the Thanksgiving Basket Program. The A. J. Kershaw Board is under the leadership of Sister Shirley Collins-Hackley.
The Sam Sampson Board, under the leadership of Sister Gerri Chambers, embraced the A Life Recovery Center as its major outreach program this year. The board purchased personal hygiene items for residents as well as lawn care equipment. The board also hosted a "Christmas Angels" dinner for the residents. Decorative Christmas gift bags
containing an array of treats and a personalized ceramic mug were presented to each client in attendance. Additional gift bags were presented to residents who were celebrating a December birthday.
Usher Board # 1 continued to make a difference in the lives of those in need through their Miracle Hill, American Second Harvest of the Big Bend, and Little League Baseball programs. Christmas gifts were provided to residents of Miracle Hill Nursing Home, and monetary gifts were given to the American Second Harvest of the Big Bend and the Capital City Little League Baseball Team. Thanks to Sister Jean Jasmin and members of Usher Board #1 for striving to make a difference.
Stewardess Board #3 contributed a love donation of $100.00 to the Mount Pisgah AME Church Stewardess Board Program.
Called To Make A Difference! CHRISTIAN SOCIAL ACTION
Florida Rights Restoration Coalition
Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue unjust decrees. Isaiah 10: 1
At a time when there are widespread efforts in
the nation to legally employ regressive laws and reforms to suppress the right of minority citizens to register and vote, Bethel addressed the issue of preserving and protecting the franchise – a basic American principle.
Bethel’s legacy of providing a safe haven of political gatherings for Tallahassee’s black residents dates
back to the Era of Reconstruction. Therefore, it was predictable that for the second year, Bethel opened its doors to the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, an advocacy group that works to improve the lives of people negatively impacted by the criminal justice system. The coalition assembled at Bethel on February 18 ahead of its annual rally at the Florida State Capitol. Nearly 600 men and women from across the state met to pray, to strategize, and to have lunch before rallying at the capitol. The group, led by Desmond Meade, presented Governor Ron DeSantis and the Clemency Board with a clemency reform proposal to speed up the rights restoration process for former inmates. The theme for Advocacy Day was “Our Vote, Our Voice, Our Time.” We thank God for
allowing Bethel to provide a safe place of assembly for groups that advocate for social and political justice and equality.
The Black History Committee joined with the Bethel Commission on Christian Social Action to encourage Bethel members and the community to vote, and arm them with essential information needed to exercise the vote during one of the most consequential election cycles in Ameri-
can history. Members braved 90 plus degree tempeatures on July 30-31 and August 1 (before the period of early voting) to provide persons with printed details on matters such as election dates, the three ways to register, the three ways to vote, verification of individual voter infor-
mation and polling places, types of valid ID to
present at the polls, Provisional Ballot status,
steps to follow at the polling place, and how to
customize a voting session (enlarge font size, audio ballot, etc.). Information published by the Association for the Study of African American History, on the black struggle to acquire voting rights, was distributed as well as a list of African American elected officials (local, state, and national) serving Leon County. The Bethel family
