The Truth Staff
The Historic Warren Ame Church celebrated its Woman’s Missionary Society on Sunday, June 29, to acknowledge their legacy of “divinely called and anointed service,” wrote Senior Pastor Brandon A. A. J. Davis.
The missionaries of Warren Church, consisting of 12 members of the congregation, are “small in numbers but mighty in service,” noted President Debra Jelks since they offer assistance not only to members of the congregation to meet their spiritual and physical needs (food and supplies, for example) but also to the community at large. The Missionary Society members have adopted the Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls, for example, as one of their pet projects.
Warren AME, the oldest African American church in Toledo, was founded in 1847 by escaping enslaved people heading north through Toledo and Cleveland on the underground railroad.
“The missionaries of Historic Warren have consistently been faithful and dedicated to our calling and ministry of service … let us remain willing to serve and assist those in need,” wrote Davis.
Warren AME has been providing services – physical and spiritual – to the community since its founding. Indeed in 1862, for example, the church opened a Sabbath school to provide former enslaved people with supplementary education.
The Sunday service opened with the Introit, a processional and the doxology, then the Call to Worship offered by Rosie Payne. After the morning prayer, presented by Shirley Jackson, the Choral Response followed and the Morning Scripture by Dominique Bradley.
The welcome and announcements, the Missionary Litany, the Altar Prayer and the introduction of the speaker were presented by Missionaries Katrina Cogdell, Joyce Powell-Miller, Darlene Williams and Debra Jelks, Missionaries president.
Sunday’s speaker was the Rev. Diane Yvonne Greer-Travis of Adrian, Michigan.
“Missionaries exemplify the finest of God’s servants, showing compassion, grace and unwavering love amid life’s daily challenges in our homes, communities and local churches,” wrote Davis.
Following the Message, Rev. Darlene Williams offered the Invitation to Christian Discipleship and asked for the tithers and offerings.
The Women’s Missionary Society officers are: Debra Jelks, president; Theo Simmons-Hampton, vice president; Darlene Sawyer, secretary; Rosie Payne, treasurer; Margaret Huntley, chaplain; Dominique Bradley YPD director.