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Front Page Featured Site Bethel AME Church Glory2God, the creators of this site, have added a new client--historic Bethel AME Church of Tallahassee. The site, though still in construction as of Aug 5, features traditional and contemporay gospel music tracks as well as info on the Tallahassee District's "mother" church. So go 'head, take a peak and be blessed!
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| "Let's all say--AAAAMEEEEN!!!"
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| Homecoming 2000
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| "They Got Your Back Pastor Bell"
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The 46th Quadrenniel Session of the General Conference made history and national headlines last month when the delegates elected Rev. Dr. Vashti McKenzie, senior pastor of Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore, Md, as the first female and 116th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. McKenzie was one of four new bishops concecrated at the conference, held July 5-12 in Cincinnati, OH and will join the 19 other bishops serving a congregation of 2.3 million church members. Named after the legendary Queen of Persia, Bishop McKenzie quite fittingly has been called a "Modern-Day Esther" in response to her varied acheivements as shepard of Payne Memorial--where, during her tenure, she increased attendance from 330 to its current holding at 1700 and implemented several innovative programs at the state and national levels. Happy to take on the mantle of "Trailblazer", the Right Reverend Vashti McKenzie, accompanied by her husband Stan, will now assume leadership of the 18th Episcopal District, headquatered at Maseru--the capital of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Considering that the collective membership of the AME Church is 70% female, Bishop McKenzie's elevation was way overdue and seems to be a foot in the right direction as the AMEC steps into the 21st Century.
On Aug 13-19 Bethel AME Church, in conjunction with Ebenezer AME Church of Live Oak, will play host to the 135th Session of the Florida Annual Conference. As the Conference held its first two meetings at Bethel back in 1867 and 1868, this will indeed seem like a homecoming to the thousands of AMEers who are expected to descend on Tallahassee from the four corners of the state for the momentous event. Making this occasion even more significant is the arrival of our new Presiding Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr. John Hurst Adams, and his wife, Dr. Dolly Desselle Adams. Indeed, the Conference will open on Friday, Aug 13 with a special Welcome Program at in honor of the Episcopal couple. Having just recieved his appointment at last month's General Conference, this will mark the first time Bishop Adams will visit Florida's capital in his new capacity. However, he and Dr. Adams are no strangers to the area and are held in general high-esteem by all. For more information regarding the particular details of the Annual Conference, please visit 
Recognizing that the church lacked an active body to assist the pastor with his mission, a few dedicated and well-meaning Flipperites decided to re-establish the Pastor's Aid Board in December, 1999. Presided over by Sis. Julie Catledge (left), the members of the board include: Sis. Shatonya Bradley, Bro. Hubert Brown, Bro. Gary Campbell, Sis. Greta Campbell, Sis. Julia Johnson, Bro. Willie J. Johnson, Sis. Chenell Lee, Bro. Oscar Lightfoot, Sis. Shenezia Rivers, Sis. Margaret Ward, and Miss Ashlee Worlds. Min. Constance Gold acts as advisor to the group. The Pastor's Aid Board is charged with carrying out specific tasks for the support of the Pastor. Moreover, the Board has taken on the reponsibilty of presenting special recognition of Pastor Bell on an annual basis. To that end, last month the body sponsored this year's Pastor's Appreciation Program to honor our beloved pastor as he celebrated his 24th year in the service of the Lord. Judging by the broad grin that remained planted on Pastor Bell's face throughout the event, and his decree to our editor to make certain that Praise recognises the Pastor's Aid Board in this months issue, the effort was certainly appreciated and well-recieved by the honoree.