Have any of you heard of this AME Church? Started with 43 people and now boast over 2,500 in 15 months. The church is pastored by Rev Jamal Harrison Bryant, the son of Bishop Bryant. WebSite...www.empowermenttemple.org

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Answers

I had not, but I checked out their website and it was very informative and inspiring. Definitely not mainstream AME as we know it today. 'Empowerment' and interesting name for a church and very 'charismatic' as we like to label churches today that are more mainstream vs. tradition based. I am sure the fact that he is the son of a Bishop helped to pave over some of the rough spots that he may have been confronted with by his non-traditional focus. After reviewing the website and reflecting on a discussion I had with with a member this week about how to attract and retain our Young Adults...it begs to question....Is 'Empowerment AME' the answer? How do we incorporate more charismatic type worship and activities into our denomination without forsaking the tradition that the AME church is based upon? I work with the Young Adult Ministry as an advisor and many times when they voice ideas that challenge tradition, we have difficulty in getting them implemented or even considered. So let me know what you think about this issue.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

I see what you mean. One line says, "An A.M.E. Church" otherwise no mention of AME. Recently, I was in a session with other pastors and suggested that we deemphasize AME and emphasize CHRIST. I was ostracized and practically kicked out of the church ofr even suggesting such. It is good to know I was and still am right.

Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Yes, I have Brother Henry Rev Jamal Harrison Bryant was the Youth Director of NAACP and served under Rev Dr Frank M Reid at Bethel AME in Baltimore, a church that was formerly pastored by his father. He is a dynamic, no nonsence preacher who has taken his ministry to another dimension. As you can see from his website, he bases his ministry on the Word and has moved it out of the for walls of the church into and about the community. God is doing marvalous things through him and Empowerment AME church. Rev Paris, seems you may have been ahead of the times with your suggestion. I jope other pastors look to the Empowerment AME Church model to grow their churches and bring more souls to Christ. It is time to "draw outside the lines". Rev Bryant is and look at the fruits.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

As the old adage states, "you can't have your cake and eat it too." Either you are A.M.E or you are not. If you are not with God's blessings and ours I think you ought to move on. What I do in private is my own business. What I do in public is yet another thing altogether and I must always respect others. The last time I saw a child color outside the lines it was an ugly picture indeed.

Denominations, not individuals determine what we do in corporate worship. While that allows a great deal of latitude for individual expression, it also sets boundaries to which we ought to adhere. God indeed values and respects individuals as is exemplified by every star, every snowflake, every thumbprint, every leaf, every grain of sand and on and on.

What is meant by A.M.E., Baptist, Roman Catholic, or C.O.G.I.C. is predetermined in our written Disciplines, Doctrines, and Creeds. The corporate worship styles are also determined by our different written and expressed Orders of Worship. I am amazed at the growing number of ordained person and lay members who either don't know or refuse to recognize the difference.In fact God knows I quickly tire of them.

The A.M.E. Church was not intended to be everything to everybody. Nor was any other denomination. They each were designed to unify commonality in worship. I pass more than twenty Christian churches on the way to my own. On occasion I have even worshipped with many of them. All of these have the exact same faith that I do. However, the difference lies in expression. At anytime my church ceases to meet my needs I intend to move on in love, and I would hope that others would do the same.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

Bro. Matthews, be careful that folks don't keep moving on until you are the sole parishioner. The AME Church may not be able to be all things to all people, but it should definitely not be just a church for old folks!

I am in the 7th Episcopal District (SC), Palmetto Annual Conference, and our conference is in session as we speak. I went to the Men's Night service, the first service of the conference, and I was quite disturbed by the lack of young folks there. I would say the average age was about 50, maybe higher. I'm fairly certain that I was the only 27 year old there. Now I understand the need to keep in line with our historic and doctrinal traditions, but even God spoke to people in a language and a manner in which the people could understand. When He made his covenant with Abram, He did so using the Chaldean custom of splitting an animal in half and passing between the two halves.

The AME Church is going to have to grow along with its members, otherwise it will be consigned to the annals of history. I don't advocate tossing the Liturgy out the window. (I happen to like the traditional call to worship, personally.) But I do think we should address the changing landscape of Kingdom building. While the Word doesn't change, the manner of speaking it does.

As far as Empowerment Temple, I'd like to visit and worship with them before I make an evaluation. A quick browse of the website is not exactly a fact-finding mission. I suggest that all folks that find themselves in the Baltimore area do likewise if this issue is of concern to them.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

It is not about old or young,nor about how many or how few. It is simply about respecting the dignity of all people whom God has created in His own image, each one distinctly different from the other, who come together to bless His name. If you are now 27, with God's help, more quickly than you think you will be 57. If you are 57 it is certain that you were once 17.

The present trend is to make all clones. However in God's real world, there is no such animal as "Clone". Even identical twins and their parents and siblings know the difference.

In my Episcopal District there is not presently, nor has there ever been any shortage or young people in the church. In fact when we come together as a District to celebrate the Founding of the A.M.E. Church- -on the day designated for YPD--we have discovered that no church or civic area is large enough to house us. Each year more people have been left standing on the outside than could be housed in whatever the chosen facility has been.

Until Jesus comes again you can rest assured there will always be an A.M.E. Church and that church will be comprised of members of all ages. You can also be assured that it will continue to grow. Having been founded on a solid foundation, it will ever stand. Refusing to use or acknowledge the name won't make it go away or change who we are.

The Church is God's, not ours. Unlike many of us today, God respects the dignity of all His creation and all His people no matter what their age or individual difference.

-- Anonymous, August 30, 2001

What I am about to say may border on heretical to some of you, but I tend to disagree with you, Bro. Matthews. I hope that there will come a time when there is no AME Church, no Episcopal church, no Baptist, Pentecostal, Lutheran, Presbyterian or otherwise. The Lord made no provisions for denominations in His word.

Further, Bro. Matthews, I submit that indeed, it is about how many. Are we not called to spread the Gospel. If the numbers that we reach do not increase, then we are not doing our jobs. I also disagree with your "clone" statement. I have visited AME churches in 3 different episcopal districts, and nary a one of 'em was a cloe of the other, save for the Liturgy. And I don't see our denomination moving that way, either.

Finally, we really can rest assured of nothing except what is spoken in the Bible. Nowhere does the Word mention African Methodism. So while it is noble to honor our tradition, the future of the AME Church is not promised to us.

Peace and Blessings!

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Since I reside in the 6th District which I believe is where Bro.Matthews resides, I can beg to disagree with some of the statements about youth. Yes when we have Founder's Day, there are is an overflow crowd of young people. But sadly in many cases these numbers are still comprised of youth not Young Adults, when you look around the ages of 19-30 are not there. And I just do not believe we can continue to sit high and look low in our approach to this concern. Yes the individual that is now 21 will one day be 51, we are missing out on 30 years when they can be serving in productive roles in our church. We all have differing views and I believe there is a way that we can retain our heritage as AME's and still become more progressive in addressing this concern. I believe we should be saving souls not just AMEs and when we get to heaven (that is my goal) I am sure there will be no denominational designation in worship at that point...so what happens then?

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

I agree with the Sister above. I believe we can retain our denominational affilations, retain our roots as black folk and as methodists, and retain our people as lifelong AMEs by placing more focus on ministry emanating from the local congregation rather than the denominational hierachy. Blessings

Pastor Paris

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

Rev. Jamal Bryant is doing an outstanding job and the church that he founded, in Baltimore. Empowerment Temple is a breath of fresh air in our Zion and we need more of them. Churches who are pastored by individuals who want to do more than just business as usual. We need pastors and churches who understand that the cheese has been moved and instead of us discussing why it has moved, we need to go find some cheese. Please read Who Moved My Cheese, it will bless your church and you as well.

-- Anonymous, August 31, 2001

REV. jAMAL Bryant is doing a fine job where he is but what we need to know is that we can all do that if we are williong to do the work. It takes hard work to grow a minisrty whether you are in Harlem Ny where I am or in Baltimore or California or in a rural community in Pennsylvania. So many pastors want 200 300 400 peole in their church but are not willing to go and do the work. They are not going to fall in our pews we must present a minisrty that suggests they need to be here. THERE are pockets of growth throughout the connection and we all can experience growth but we must do the work. A pastor who is at his or her church 1 or 2 hours a week can not groww a church, and so many of our pastors only go to their church on Sunday and that is SAD. you show me a pastor who is committed to growing a ministry and i will show you a congregation thAT WILL GROW.

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

Rev. Bryant's ministry is indeed very, very exciting and I am especially proud to see so many young people coming to his church. Wow! Rev. Nelson you mentioned in your post that a pastor grows a church. I would love to hear discussion from others on the board about this statement. Personally being a pastor and co-founder of a new A.M.E church I work in partnership with God, laity and community. This would be a daunting task if I felt I had to do it alone. I have also received tremendous support and guidance from my Bishop and our church growth director. I look at our congregation and almost without exception those who are there were brought by someone in the congregation. Some Pastors can only put in a few hours because of work obligations. I know for myself I am bi-vocational. And most times I am up late at night working on sermons, paper work etc. during the day calling members when I can. Every church is unique and God has a plan for every church big or small. Rev. Jamal Bryant has been very generous in offering support to other new churches. Let's keep working together as a denomination. One of my dreams is to have a conference on Rural and small church ministries. So please keep that in prayer for me. God Bless

-- Anonymous, November 14, 2001

I agree with Rev. Nelson who states that ministers want megachurches, but they do not want to do the work. I agree that doing "the work" is very, very, very important. However, the "annointing" is what really makes the difference. If pastors do not have "the annointing" which is passed from the pastor to the members and throughout the congregation, then the "work" will be done in vain. Annointed churches grow. Blessings.

-- Anonymous, November 26, 2001

Praise the lord,My name is Harry Smith Iam One of the Original Officers appointed by my Pastor Rev.Jamol Harrison Bryant.Iam a Proud Yet humble Stewart who Loves GOD and serves as one of the Spirtual leaders in our church.I hope this dosn't surprise you but Iam 55 years old!To update your infromation as of our 2nd year anniversary in April 2002, god has added another 2,500 saved souls to our flock blessing our church with over 5000 worshipers striving to make tomorrow the best day of our lives in CHRIST JESUS. Your Brother in the Struggle/ HARRY!!!

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2002

PRAISE GOD! For the work of the Holy Spirit at Empowerment Temple!!! Bro. Harry thank you so much for sharing such wondering news about the phenomal growth in your church. Please keep us posted on this board of activities at your church. I am fairly new to our denomination but there is definitely the movement of the Holy Spirit in our denomination. I feel it in my bones that God is using the A.M.E church in new and wonderous ways for his plan for salvation. I ask that all of us keep Rev. Bryant and his staff in our prayers. For the work they are doing is literally saving lives. Bro. Harry 55 is young!! Moses did not get started until he was 70. God needs workers of every age and background. Thank you for having a servants heart for Christ. Again thank you for a wonderful praise report.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 2002

Oops the above line should read "wonderful news" sorry about that.

-- Anonymous, November 03, 2002

Praise the Lord!! Like Bro Harry Smith, I too am an officer of ETAME Church. My name is Bro Ivan Kelly and I'm a little older (57 yrs)and I must confuss this is the most exciting time of my 20 year christian walk. As noted in the Spiritual Empowerment section of our website, it states: "Services are designed to strengthen the saved and to save the lost". I'm reminded of a country preacher namd Vance Hanner when asked what he was trying to accomplish with his sermons? Replied: "Two things: Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable". Our Pastor does an excellent job of that. If you're planning to come to Baltimore and would like to visit us, feel free to drop me an (e- mail) line and I'll personally see to it that you get good directions as well as a good seat.

-- Anonymous, November 04, 2002

I really enjoyed the message, "RUN TELL THAT"

BTW, I am a pastor in the COGIC.

-- Anonymous, November 07, 2002

In regard to this discussion and knowing the Pastor of Empowerment myself, it is good to note that souls are being saved, the community is being served, and most importantly God is being glorified. We put too much emphasis on a name and not enough on the only name by which we all can be saved, and that is the name of Jesus. I am in the AME church and I know we have a rich history, but when we go to the masses to preach the gospel it is Jesus Christ who we preach and the church is just a stop on the railway we call salvation.

-- Anonymous, November 11, 2002

I was impressed by all of the different comments and the responses. As we moved toward the 2004 General Conference and beyond, we must take seriously this thing of Ministry. Every pastor , every steward, every trustee, every missionary, every lay person, every YPD, and every member is called to this work of ministry. Yes, we have heard all the negative reports concerning the future of the church, but this is a new day for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. We have to be concerned about reaching the masses because believe it or not, the world is hungry for the Living Bread. We operate under the banner of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and we love the AME Church because it is the church of our choice. Christ is in charge of the AME Church and the church will not be destroyed. However, we have our parts to play to keep the church growing and developing. We have the responsibilty to carry the gospel into the world, to reach people of all ages, to offer ministry for the children, for the youth, for the seniors and elderly, for the hungry, for the opressed and depressed people in our communities, we have a serious "charge to keep" and we must "serve the present age" with new and contemporary ministries. The Gospel never changes, but we have to have new and relevant ways to communicate the Gospel. Pastor Jamal Bryant is doing an excellent job, he is providing a New Ministry for this New Age". And let us bear in mind that the AME Church's Order of Worship leaves room for flexibility and the pastor is the worship leader and he/she must be guided by the Holy Spirit and provide what is needed to reach his/her people. As a Candidate for Executive Director for the Department of Church Growth and Development in 2004, I contend that we must be serious about Ministry, we can no longer do business as we have done in the past, we must preach the word, we must teach the word, we must go into the highway and hedges and bring people in from the fields of sin, we must reach out to new churches and struggling churches, and above all, we must present Christ as the only way that men and women and children can be saved.

-- Anonymous, November 12, 2002

I met Rev. Jamal Bryant in 1988 when his parents were assigned to Episcopal service in West Africa. Over 15 years I have observed Jamal evolve into a dynamic, Holy Ghost filled visionary creating a ministry that has world wide impact. In 2001, I returned to Liberia after ordination in the Baltimore Annual Conference, to found and pastor THE EMPOWERMENT TEMPLE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF LIBERIA. Starting with 16 members it is now the fastest growing AME church in the conference with a 500-seat worship hall constructed within its first year of establishment. This done in a war-torn country with no electrictiy, no pipe-borne water system and 70% unemployment rate. I thank God for the tenaciousness of Rev. Jamal H. Bryant and others within this denomination. It imspires persons like myself to believe "It is no secret what God can do. What He's done for others He can do for you". Praise God for this new paradigm shift in the AME denomination. Rev. Katurah York Cooper, Monrovia, Liberia

-- Anonymous, December 17, 2002

'Salaam, I heard of Mr.Bryant's church but I didn't know he had a little congregation and then somehow his congregation grew. Anyway, don't be deceived by the many words and many people that attend. The matter is is Mr.Bryant speaking the truth about Jesus the Messiah. I'm a Muslim who was offended by what Mr. Bryant had to say about our religion. At least he could be a man about his views by letting a Muslim challenge his information. See, alot of Christians don't know what Muslims believe other than what they hear on the news or what they're pastors tells them all of it is false. No Christian wants to have a dialogue with a Muslim because Muslims knows the truth about God. Ask Mr. Bryant about my Rebuttal to his "Why I'm not a Muslim" Something tells me he's not gonna even read but ask him about it. If you really want to be a better Christian become a Muslim. I'm not talking about Farakkan either. A true Muslim who believes in the ONE True God who is Alone.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2003

Praise God Rev. Jamal Bryant is preaching up a storm for the Lord! He is touching the hearts of people with a powerful gospel message. It is the truth of the gospel message that sets people free and that is why his church is growing. It has the anointing of God upon it. I pray that all of us will pray for the ministry at empowerment temple and that we will be proud that it is an A.M.E church. And the gentlemman that posted in regard to Rev. Bryant there are many christians who have dialogues with Muslim. I have sat on the desert in Baalbak Lebannon with Bedouins as they shared their love for Allah and I listend, they too listened as I shared my love for Jesus Christ. And we were friends. Many of us on this board belong to interfaith associations and there is a muslim representative. I know in my town we have such an organization and we work together on housing issues, mental health issues and pray for world peace. Since 911 more and more universities have offered courses on the Iaalmic religion. And many of us know the difference between shities, sunni, and Nation of Islam. I am a christian minister but my undergraduate and seminary classes provided training regarding the Islamic faith. You have come on a Christian board and attacked one of our A.M.E ministers and you ask for a dialogue? Because we are Christians we will return accusations with love, we will return false generalities with the love of Christ that will show love. We are African Methodist Episcopal and we have had many names, and false accusations heaped upon us. Yet we are still here and we rely solely on the power of our God, our saviour Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit to protect us and to show us the truth of God's way. Rev. Bryant keep preaching, keep stepping out on the word of the Lord and know his anointing is upon you.

-- Anonymous, January 23, 2003

To be a true follower of Jesus the Messiah is to become a Muslim. The true Followers of Jesus were the Nazarenes (Unitarian Christians). After Jesus the Messiah (peace be upon him)left his disciples believed in him being a true prophet of God, a true messenger from God and believed in another prophet/messenger to come after him who was Muhammad ibn Adullah (peace be upon him). The Unitarian Christians rejected Paul's version of Jesus. The Unitarian Christians were killed and persecuted by the official church (Roman Catholic Church) because of their stance on their beliefs. I'm not attacking Mr. Bryant, I have respect for him but why did he have to attack our religion. When the Unitarian Christians met the Muslims majority of the Christians became Muslims and even fought against the Roman Catholic Church. If any religion that elucidates who Jesus was it's Islam. Islam clears Jesus of any derogatory names that was given to him after he left. Only Muslims believe in the only salvation to God and that is to believe in the Oneness of God in His Lordship, Worship and to believe in His last Messenger Muhammad ibn Abdullah, and in Jesus Messengership,Prophethood. To believe that Allah (God) is One God who has no partners or sons and to single out God Alone for worship is the only salvation.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2003

Simply stated….we believe as follows:

We believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. The third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God, the Father, almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Church universal, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.

-- Anonymous, January 24, 2003

Salaam,

I not disputing the fact that Christians believe in God Amighty as the Creator, Maker of the heavens and earth. My question is do you single out God Amighty to be worshipped Alone?

I know this is way off the original question about Mr. Bryant but he stated that Muslims need to believe in Jesus the way he do and I recent that totally. Listen, When the leader of the Unitarian Christians priest named Arius was invited to accept the new version of Christ taught by Paul. He declared that Jesus's prophethood which raised him in degree above other men was soley due to the will of God, but that he was essentially as human as any other man created by God: He said: If Jesus was in reality the 'son of God', he argued, then it followed that the father must have existed before the son. Therefore, there must have been a time when the son did not exist. Therefore, it followed that the son was a creature composed of an essence or being which had not always existed. Since God is in essence Eternal and Ever-Existent, Jesus could not be of the same essence as God...Since Jesus was created by God, his being was finite and so he could not possess the attribute of Eternity. Only God is Eternal. Since Jesus was a creature, he was subject to change like all other rational creatures. Only God is unchanging. Thus, he asserted, it was clear that Jesus was not God. This was one of the first Christians who were killed and persecuted by the official church (the Roman Catholic Church). (Ahmad Thomson 24)

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

The Holy Qur'an confirms the Prophet/Messengership of Jesus the Messiah (the Christ)along with the Unitarian Christians.

See, the Qur'an tells Muslims to say to Christians, Surah 4:171 "O People of the Book! (Jews and Christians) commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but the truth. Christ (Messiah) Jesus the son of Maryam (Mary) was (no more than) a Messenger of Allah (God), and His Word, which he bestowed upon Mary, and a spirit preceding from him so believe in Allah (God) and His messengers. Say not "Three"desist It will be better for you Allah (God) is one God! Glory be to Him. Far exalted is He above having a son. To him belong all things in the heavens and the earth. And enough is Allah (God) is as a disposer of affairs."

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

Greetings Brother Abdul-Halim: Welcome and Thank you for your recent contributions to the AME Today BB. It is always good to read lively and thoughtful discussions even when the subject matter differs from one's viewpoint or convictions. One unsolicited piece of advice I can provide since you choose to post comments on this Christian BB is to rethink your efforts to engage in Islamic prosyletizing. Your energetic contributions would have far greater value by illuminating the BB about the rich Islamic history and culture. I am a reasonably well-read person and understand the historical value and importance of Islam in world culture. However, like Rev. Jamal Bryant, I too am unapologetic about the Divinity of Christ and the uniqueness of Jesus' historical and theological purpose. On matters pertaining to the Prophet Muhammad, it is wise to once again, 'agree to respectfully disagree'. QED

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

Salaam,

I'm not here to attack Christians beliefs, Rev. Bryant said some things about Muslims not believing in Jesus the Messiah and to me Rev. Bryant made total mockery of our religion in public, Muslims believe in Jesus the Messiah, his virgin birth, his miracles God did through him, and his ascension into heaven without experiencing death.

Again, the first church called the Unitarian Christians, a man named Ulfilas was made bishop when the faith of Arius was accepted as orthodox Christianity. Ulfilas refused to accept the doctrine of the Paul's version of Christ. Being a true Christian, Ulfilas challenged the doctrines of the Official Church's trinity, divinity of Christ with boldness and conviction of Arius. Ulfilas and his followers never hesitated to affirm their faith in, and to worship, the One and only true God. He is, they said, Eternal, Incorruptible, Alone, Unbegotten,without beginning and without end. He cannot be associated with any form, and is by no stretch of the imagination a combination of parts. He is Single and Unchangeable. Jesus, said Ulfilas and his followers, could not be equated with God. Jesus was not eternal. Jesus was a creature like any other man. Jesus could not even create even a fly, whereas God is the Creator of everything. It was true that Jesus had been exalted among men by the design and will of God, but not by virtue of his essence. Ulfilas and his followers also denied the 'divinity'of the Holy Spirit.Ulfilas described it as an illuminating and satisfying power neither God nor Lord but helper of Jesus, subject to him as Jesus is subject and obedient in all things to God.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

Salaam,

Do Christians tody know when the Cathedral of St. Sophia and the churches of the Arians in Constantinople were forcibly taken over by the Official Church, Ulfilas declared that this was an act not of a Christian but of Anti-Christ. The members of the Official Church (the Catholic Roman Church), he said, were: Not worshippers of God, but without God, not leaders but misleaders.

Ulfilas, a Unitarian Christian firmly believed that only those who followed the original teachings and example of Jesus the Messiah could call themselves Christians. All other conventicles were not churches of God, but synagogues of Satan. Arius and Ulfilas both were Christians were killed by the Official Church (the Roman Catholic Church) later on. Both affirmed that Jesus was a man and a Prophet, but not God. They therefore respected the Virgin Mary and believed inthe immaculate conception, but did not think of her as somehow being 'the mother of God'. They did not say that Jesus was born on the twenty-fifth of December, since this belief only originated in Rome towards the end of the fourth century. They believed that Jesus was born a human being and remained one. They therefore had no doctrine of Incarnation, the doctrine of the Official Trinitarian Church tried to explain that God could also be a man at the same time. Instead the Unitarian Christians said that Jesus, because of his moral excellence, was favoured and chosen by God. When he was baptised by John at the age of thirty he was given knowledge from God by means of the Holy Spirit, that is, the angel Gabriel. He was thus endowed with the authority and lordship over men which enabled him to serve them. These were the first Christians who were persecuted, exiled from their land and killed by the Official Church (the Roman Catholic Church because of their belief.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

Salaam,

Rev. Bryant, preaches very well, he orients his methods around African Americans but how many Christians knows their history of this religion?

This extensive persecution again reduced the number of Unitarian Christians in North Africa. The population was further decimated by the plague which started by the Nile in 542 AD. Despite all this,affirmation and worship of the Divine Unity (Oneness of God) was continued in North Africa by the followers of Arius, Ulfilas and Donatus, until the coming of Islam. When Islam came to them, they embraced it, so well-prepared were they for what was, after all, an extension and re-affirmation of the guidance they had been following.

No offense by the Christianity of today owes much of its plausibility to the forgeries executed by the Official Christians of this period.The Unitarian Christians in North Africa had persistently refused to worship the Triune god or except Paul's version of Christ.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

Salaam,

See, the Unitarian Christians laid the foundations of the church. Suddenly, the Unitarian Christians found themselves overwhelmed by the increasing multitudes that from all the various religions of polytheism enlisted under the banner of Paul's version of Christ.Paul's version of Christianity spread through Greece and then Europe, the followers of Jesus and their followers spread with their knowledge to the East and to the South, and eventually through right across North Africa.The Unitarian Christians were denounced as heretics by the Official Church (Paulinian Christians). The Paulinian Christians thus separated themselves from the followers of both Moses and Jesus.

It is clear that generalisations such as 'the early Christians'and 'the early Church'are inadequate. They have been used to disguise the fact that there was once not one body, but two: a body of people called the Nazarenes (Unitarian Christians) who believed in Jesus and followed Jesus, as well as the body of people called the Christians who believed in Christ and followed Paul's version of Christ. The institution which arose out of Paul's teachings can be conveniently referred to as 'the Official Church'(the Roman Catholic Church)in order to distinguish this body from those who contiuned to follow the original teachings and example of Jesus who were called Unitarian Christians.

-- Anonymous, January 25, 2003

I believe within my heart that the spirit of the Lord is upon Rev. Bryant and his ministry. I also pray that there will come a time that the all denominations will be no more and that we will all be unified and to work for Christ saving souls and changing this world for the better. I also pray that we become the church that Christ is looking for, a church without spot or blemish. Surely we cant be that church if we are so caught up in being AME or being Episcopal or Penecostal or any other denomination, that we stress emphasize that denomination and emhpasize Christ. When Jesus comes beck he isn't goin to care if you are AME, Baptist, Penecostal, COGIC or anything else, he will want to know how you lived your life, what you did for him in the ministry. So let us put all of this mess aside. I also believe that the God of Issac and Abraham is the one and only true God, self created and the ruler of all that is. I also believe in the deity of Christ. I believe that the Holy Spirit is the God that lives in us. I believe in one God who is omni-present and Jesus who is this same God who took on our flesh to save the world from sin and The Holy Spirit who is also this same God which lives in each one of his children. If you have never tried Jesus, I reccommend that you try him. He is the Best thing that has ever happened to me. Try Jseue you will like him so much that you will want to share him with everyone that you know, because he is that good.

-- Anonymous, April 06, 2003

I had an opportunity to hear rev. Jamal Bryant on yesterday in Detroit. His ministry is a breath of fresh air in a church society that is so hooked on tradition. His focus is on the true reason we meet on Sundays and during the week, J-E-S-U-S. The thing I am most impressed with is the way he can bridge the gap between young and old. He has a word for young and old alike. I admire Jamal Bryant and would like to know how old he is. I also would like to tell him to keep up the good work and know the devil doesn't like it that he is reaching the people ages 18-40 but he has some people at Mt. Zion New Covenant Baptist church in Detroit who support him in ministry. God bless.

-- Anonymous, April 09, 2003