WS Chronicle

Bethania A.M.E. Zion Church has been around for well over 100 years.  This past Sunday, the church held a special afternoon service kicking off its Homecoming and Revival, which lasted from Aug. 6-9.

The special guest speaker for the afternoon service was the Rev. Dairl Scott Jr., pastor of Center Grove A.M.E. Zion Church, out of Tobaccoville. Other A.M.E. churches from around the area also helped Bethania celebrate.

The service was filled with laughter, beautiful singing, and an inspirational message from Scott.  His message about “A Beautiful Church” was telling those in attendance to not be the reason your church does not prosper.  He mentioned things that would make a church “beautiful” and how to not become an “ugly church.” 

“I try to preach series of sermons but when I go to revival, my own devotional time inspires what the Lord will lead me to preach,” said Scott when asked about his sermon.  “My main message to everyone was to not just go to church but to be the church.”

“I have been in church all my life and I just have a zeal for God,” he continued.  “It’s not that I’m qualified or anything like that. I guess its just my zeal and passion that God uses to make me look better than I am.”

The Rev. Dr. Karen Roberts Miller, senior pastor of Bethania A.M.E. Zion Church, says she is excited about the events of the week.  She says she just gets filled with the Spirit during Homecoming and Revival week.

“I am happy that God has blessed us to be here for the length of time that we have been here,” said Roberts Miller.  “We realize by His mercy and grace we are here and will continue to do all that we can to be the church that He wants us to be.”

“As the preacher preached today we want to be a beautiful church that goes outside the walls and tends to the needs of the people.  We will continue to make sure we examine ourselves first before we examine others.”

Roberts Miller says the word that was preached by Rev. Scott was a message to her to examine herself to make sure Bethania was in fact a beautiful church.  She said she thanks and praised God for the message delivered through Scott.

The speakers for the evening services were the Rev. Richard K. Watts Jr., pastor of Rickards Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church; the Rev. Dr. Calvin L. Miller, presiding elder of the Winston-Salem District; and Rev. Clarence Marlin, pastor of Fairview Heights Baptist Church in Salisbury.

Roberts Miller says she chose those individuals to speak after spending some time praying to God and those were the names he gave her. 

Going forward, Roberts Miller would love to see the church continue to progress and grow spiritually and in numbers.  She says the more they reach out to the community, both wishes will come to fruition.