Bethel Missionary Baptist Holds Africare Ministry Heritage Day: “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture”
Deacon Charles A. Wright speaks during the Africare Heritage Day Program.
By Linda T. Fortenberry, Ph.D.
Special to the Outlook
The Africare Ministry of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church commemorated Heritage Day on Feb. 22.
This year’s Annual Heritage Day program’s theme embraced the 2015 national theme for Black History Month: “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture.” The foundational scriptures for the program were Psalm 90:1-2, 16-17. Sister Betty Smith provided articulate direction as the program presider. A program highlight was a special tribute to the ministry’s deceased long-time leader, the late Dr. Eva C. Wanton.
Her lovely granddaughter, Sakarra Grissom, offered a poetry recitation, dedicated to her late grandmother. The standing ovation from the audience was clear evidence of the audience’s profound appreciation for Wanton’s great years of service and the continuance of her legacy through the Africare Ministry and her granddaughter’s excellent oration.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by Deacon Charles A. Wright, retired professor emeritus of Civil Engineering Technologies at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Introduced by Bethel’s Rev. Alfred Williams, Sr., Wright mesmerized the audience with a succinct and masterful “walk-through” of the “best” of times and the “worst” of times in Black life, history and culture during the last century.
Bethel’s Heritage Day Honorees for 2015 include: Malinda Jackson James, Mary B. Young, Jennie Williams, Perry West, Lottie Muldrow, Royle King and Pamela Coleman.
From famous inventions by ingenious Blacks, to the atrocities of the Jim Crow era, to the civil rights struggles, to the economic, educational and social injustices of the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, to the indescribable exuberance following the election of the first Black president of the United States, to the tragedy of the arrogant murder of Trayvon Martin, to the international shame of Ferguson, MO.
With incredible precision and thoroughness, Deacon Wright captured the essence of Black life, history and culture. Most importantly, he concluded with a challenge to the inspired audience: What will you do? Following a standing ovation and thunderous, sustained applause, Rev. R.B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, further expressed his gratitude to Deacon Wright for his extraordinary address and challenge to the congregants.
Bethel’s other Heritage Day Honorees of 2015 include: Pamela Coleman, ShaRhonda Brown, Takila Brooks, Jalencia Barr, Lovoria Ofuani and Rev. R.B. Holmes.
Other program participants included Bethel’s Children and Youth Choirs directed by Cassandra and Anthony Poole, Brother Bernard Smothers, Minister Sara Garcia, Brother Prince Hinson, Brother Theodore James and Brother Titus Tillman.
To conclude this year’s outstanding program, Pastor Holmes and Malinda Jackson James, Africare Ministry Leader, presented recognitions to the 2015 Heritage Day Honorees. They were selected for making the lives and experiences of our youth positive and productive. This year’s recipients were as follows:
Mr. Ramon Alexander, Founder & C.E.O.
Distinguished Young Gentlemen of America, Incorporated
Ms. Jalencia Barr, Advisor
Pearls of Perfection Youth Group
Delta Kappa Omega Chapter
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Ms. Takila Brooks, Coordinator
Delta G.E.M.S. of Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Ms. ShaRhonda Brown, Coordinator
National Achievers/Believers Society
Tallahassee Area Coalition Center of Excellence
Mrs. Pamela Coleman, Youth Leader
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Mr. Joel Gamble, Advisor
Kappa League
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated
Ms. Janelle Hall, Advisor
Ivy Roses Youth Group
Chi Upsilon Omega Chapter
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Mr. Royle King, Advisor
Omega Lamp Lighters
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated
Mr. Marvin Moise, Coordinator
Alpha Leadership Program
Alpha Leadership Educational Foundation, Incorporated
Mrs. Lottie Muldrow, Youth Director
Alpha Upsilon Zeta Chapter
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Mrs. Lovoria Ofuani, Youth Leader
Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
Mr. Mario Richardson, President
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Helping-Hand 2, Incorporated
Mr. Perry West, Advisor
Sigma Beta Club of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated
Mrs. Jennie Williams, Youth Director
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
Dr. Mary Bell Young, Executive Director
Miccosukee Youth Education Foundation, Incorporated
In the late 1980’s, the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church under the Pastorate of the Rev. R. B. Holmes, Jr., became an official member of the National Africare Organization. The Bethel Church was one of several in Tallahassee at the time that agreed to establish an Africare Ministry. To date, the Africare Ministry at Bethel still exists in the city, operating independently of the national organization. The Church is thankful for its contribution to and the financing of a well in a remote village of Mali, West Africa (early 1990s) and the involvement (2013 to 2015) of building a Library and Computer Lab in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, West Africa, under the leadership of the Africare Ministry.
Because of its love for the children of Ghana and its people, Bethel Africare adopted the Bonk Rong Junior School affectionately known as Bethel #2. Many donations of books, school supplies, toys for the children and cash awards for the teachers/headmaster have been delivered to Africa. A great day of celebration will occur when the Library – Computer Lab is completed.
Under the guidance of their pastor, Rev. Holmes, and the late Ministry Leader Eva C. Wanton, “Queen Mother,” the Ministry has been blessed to make the trip to Mali, West Africa; traveled twice to Ghana, West Africa, and once to South Africa. The membership is truly thankful for the opportunity to experience this mission work and provide additional hope to the children of West Africa in particular. We pray God’s continued blessings upon them.
