Alpha and Omega Church of Faith offers tribute to the founder during regional conference
Belva Jeffreyes Williams
Alpha and Omega Church of Faith, Inc., the national headquarters of the Churches of Faith, Inc. celebrated its 75th anniversary and the 2022 Southeastern Regional Conference in Winston-Salem, July 29-31. The theme for the gathering comes from Deuteronomy 10:11-22: “Possess the Land.” On Friday night, church members from Alpha and Omega Church of Faith and from Sacred Heart Church of Faith in Brooklyn, New York, enjoyed a meet and greet reception, a dramatic tribute to the founder of the organization, Bishop Belva Jeffreyes Williams Fair, and the ministry of the Word by Dr. Felecia Piggott-Anderson.
On Saturday the attendees participated in three workshops: “Mental Health in the African American Community” by Marcia Piggott, Daymark Recovery Services, Min. Taneisha Sanders, counselor, Thomasville City Schools, and Sonji Anderson, psychology scholar, Carter G. Woodson School of Challenge. They focused on the symptoms, causes and preventive measures for suicide in the Black community. Allan Younger, award-winning business management instructor from IDEA in Durham, spoke on “Small Business Management in the Black Community.” Pastors Joseph and Felecia Anderson spoke on the topic “African American Village Consciousness.” Elder Grover Reed, Jr., pastor of Sacred Heart Church of Faith, Inc., ministered the Word of God on the theme. On Sunday, Bishop Robert Williams of Sacred Heart Church of Faith, Inc. ministered the Word of God.
The play titled “A Tribute to the Founder of Alpha and Omega, Bishop Belva Jeffreyes Williams Fair,” by Dr. Felecia Piggott-Anderson and trustee Belva Marlin was presented. Bishop Williams Fair is the namesake of Belva Marlin. When Marlin’s mother Evangelist Mary A. Lawson Vincent joined Alpha and Omega Church, she was carrying a daughter, and Vincent decided to name her child after Mother Williams. Mother Belva Williams started the Metaphysical Churches of Faith, Inc. as a prayer circle in 1947.
When Mother Williams sought refuge in Detroit, Michigan, in the 1940s, she was suffering from a severe heart condition. While in Detroit, she was a member of the Undenominational Churches of Faith, where the headquarters of the organization stood. For several years her affiliation with this body continued as she sought the Lord for purpose, direction and healing. She fasted and prayed and studied. During this time, she received a calling to ministry through a vision from God. In this vision, she saw herself as the statue of Liberty carrying a torch in her right hand. God commanded her to “Go forth and bless the world.” She became a Truth student. After she believed she had enough preparation for ministry, she decided to return to Winston-Salem.
With the help of Elder William Cornelius Thomas, Mother Williams founded The Blessed Martin Circle in the basement of her home at 1720 Gray Avenue. Brenda (George) Redd, the current owner of the home since 1974, said that the house has always been a major attraction in the city of Winston-Salem.
“There were very few African Americans building their own homes in the 1940s. People traveled from miles around just to see the house built by the Preacher Lady on Gray Avenue. Even today, people stop by just to look at it,” said Brenda Redd. “At one time, we considered selling it because we thought that one of the Alpha and Omega members might want to live in it, but we have decided that this will be the last home we will buy. We love it.”
In the production, Mother Williams kneels in prayer as she answers the call to start the prayer circle. They use various methods to reach out to God, including rosary beads that called upon them to cite Hail Marys, several “Glory Be’s,” and the Apostle’s Creed. They had prayer daily and the circle was integrated. Mother Williams taught the members the value of faith and spiritual laws.
“God is teaching us how man can release his mind from the limitation of matter and soar into the inspiring lofty realm of spiritual dimensions of life. God is showing us how we can magnetize and attract to ourselves money, jobs, and other material things we stand in need of,” said Mother Williams. Many of the high school students secured scholarships and other valuable opportunities as a result of their prayers. Also, many people were healed and saved.
Mother Williams still is greatly respected. She departed this life on April 1, 1969.
