I know everyone's mind is on Indianapolis, and after I post this, I am going to finish packing. However, just piggy-backing on the AME "mega-church" discussion, I wanted to ask this silly question. What is it about the Baltimore, Maryland/Washington, DC/Virginia area of the U.S. that aids in the production of very large, popular AME churches? Is this a figment of my imagination? What is it about this district/part of the country that helps breed such popularity in the AME church? How can this popularity level spread throughout other areas of the connectional church? Maybe Brother Dickens can help us out on this one. God bless.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2004

Answers

AJ -

I think it is a combination of demographics, economic growth, young adult inclusion and atypical AME Pastors leading these flocks. I can't discount the fact also that my frequent visits to Ebeneezer, Bethel (Baltimore) and Reid Temple AME are correlated with the growth of these great congregations :-) ? The only mega AME church in the DC-Baltimore area I have not visited yet is Empowerment. That deficiency will be corrected very soon. Why are you packing for the Gen Con which won't start until next Tuesday? You remind me of my wife. She packs for trips 5-6 days before we depart. Am I the only guy who packs on the eve of travel :-)? QED

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2004

No Brother I too pack like you, except when travelling with my wife. Then I pack the day before. Sis. AJ I have visited these Churches as well and can find an unusually high linkage of Church to community growth in this area. We have other high black populated areas but not with this success. Grainger Browning started Ebenezer with around 20 members now has near 20,000. Ann Lightner-Fuller around 50-100 and now, well the rest is history. Great Point Sister

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2004

Brother Dickens, as you can see from my post, I stated that I must "finish packing". I began the packing process, actually a month ago (SMILE). Thanks for your response. Thanks for yours as well, brother Nalton. I look forward to reading other thoughts on this matter. God bless and be safe in your travels to Indianapolis. Please be easily identifiable when you arrive!

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2004

A couple of thoughts:

• Bethel is one of our oldest and most prestigious pulpits. Sevral of its pastors have gone on to become bishops. It ws a classically large church for many years, achieving five-figure status under its current adminsitration in the early 90s.
• Empowerment Temple has only been with us a little more than four years. It was a new work. It features a dynamic, edgy young pastor, a youth dominated demographic, and a sense of urgency about urban mission.
• Ebenezer (Ft. Washingto) is acutally an old church, with roots dating back to the 1800s in Georgetown. When the current team arrived in 1984, they found 17 members there in a challenging situation: a beautiful sanctuary, a beautiful parsonage, but empty pews. Their 33-acre campus is oneof the largest in African Methodism.
• The 2000 report of the Department of Church growth and Evangelism also included St. Phillip, Atlanta, and FAME, Los Angeles in the "mega-church" catergory, along with Allen, Jamaica. Fortunately this gives us some geographic diversity in the area of successful ministries.
• As Bill mentioned, there are several factors, with which I concur. The envrionment is ripe for growth, reach, impact, and transformation. But most of our cities, with masssive African-American populations, should have a similar chemistry for success. One must therefore look at the other contributing factors: the leadership team, and the workers who effect the programs and missions of these churches.

-- Anonymous, June 26, 2004

Hi Jerryl,

Thanks for the data. I was aware of the other "large" or "mega" AME churches in other parts of the country (FAME; Allen Cathedral). There just seems to be something unique about the Baltimore/DC/Virginia area in terms of church growth. Not just in the mega-church area; just in booming church growth and I was just curious about the "mystery". God bless.

-- Anonymous, June 27, 2004

I would credit a high percentage of african american population as a contributing factor as well. But within that population is a higher percentage of educated blacks as well. given the history of our zion, our focus on empowerment through social action and historical contribution to the education of our people, this draws the black intellect to our zion. the pastors and leaders of the ame churches have successfully managed to build on our rich history while being able to effectively use that legacy and traditionalism to reach current populations. i think when people truly have an understanding of what significance the black church and what role we as AME's have played throughout history, we can use that gain the interest of new members. Once they have entered, it is then our responsibility to be a witness for the good works that being a faithful servant of the Lord can provide.

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2004