THE REVEREND BEVERLY M. STITH
The Reverend Beverly M. Stith is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. She is the oldest daughter of Alex and Doris Williams and was born on February 19th.
Pastor Beverly was educated in the St. Louis Public Schools System. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and has earned a Master of Arts – Theological Studies (MATS) Degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri.
Reverend Stith, affectionately known as “RevBev” is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church presently serving as a history maker–being the first female Pastor at St. John African Methodist Church in North St. Louis, Missouri. Her former pastoral charges include: Rock Chapel A.M.E. Church in South St. Louis, Missouri; Grant Chapel A.M.E. Church in Wentzville, Missouri; Quinn Chapel A.M.E. Church in South St. Louis, Missouri; Bethel A.M.E. Church in Paynesville, Missouri; and Oakley Chapel A.M.E. Church in Tebbetts, Missouri. She has also served as the Associate Minister at Parks Chapel A.M.E. Church in Webster Groves, Missouri. RevBev is proud to say that her ministry began at Wayman A.M.E. Church under the leadership of Reverend Ezekiel Habersham and continued with Reverend L. Fisher Hines, her spiritual mentor.
Pastor Beverly is very active in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She serves as a Third-Year Instructor on the Missouri Conference Board of Examiners, Treasurer for the Missouri Conference Women In Ministry and is the Chief Secretary for the Missouri Annual Conference.
RevBev is a Chaplain for SSM Healthcare covering St. Charles County, Missouri. She served as a Chaplain at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Peters, Missouri, and co-facilitated a Grief Support Group. She strives to make the world a better place and is active in the community partnering with local congregations in South St. Louis on the Joshua Project Gate District, a ministry to end the violence and offer alternative ways to channeling negative energy. She is a former Board Member and Consultant for Jobs with Justice.
Pastor Beverly is married to E. Andre’ Stith. Together, they have a blended family of three adult sons, two adult daughters, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
RevBev believes that one of her greatest accomplishments was submitting to the will of God in her calling to preach. She lives by Psalm 34:1—“I will bless the Lord at all times, His praises shall continually be in my mouth.” When her journey on earth is completed, Reverend Beverly M. Stith wants to be remembered as being an obedient servant for the Lord, who followed the Great Commission in scouting the land, witnessing and leading others to Christ; thereby living out her motto: “If I can help somebody as I pass this way, then my living will not be in vain.”
The African Methodist Episcopal Church has a unique and glorious history.
It is unique in that it is the first major religious denomination in the Western world that had its origin over sociological injustice rather than theological beliefs and differences.
Founder Richard Allen
Richard Allen our founder was born 1760 into slavery in Philadelphia, PA. At the age of 7, his mother and siblings were sold to a Delaware farmer names Stokeley Sturgis. At the age of 17 Sturgis sold Richard Allen’s mother and three siblings. In 1777 at the age of 17 after hearing a white itinerant Methodist minister preach protesting slavery, Richard Allen converted to Methodism and he started preaching. Allen convinced his owner to have one of the preachers come to the farm and preach. His owner Master Sturgis hearing the sermon from Daniel 5:27, the preacher believed having slaves was inhumane and on judgment day all slaveholders would be held accountable. After hearing this sermon, Master Sturgis allowed Richard Allen in 1780 to hire him-self out and to purchase his freedom at the cost of $2,000.00.
RETURN TO PHILADELPHIA – In 1784 Methodism was established as a denomination. In 1786 St. George Methodist Church invited Richard Allen to come and preach and Richard Allen returned to his birthplace, Philadelphia. Black and whites worshiped at St. George and with Allen preaching regularly, the Black membership grew and were forced to sit at the back of the church or stand in the back. Richard Allen approached the elder at St. George several times and asked permission to establish a black church. His requests were denied forcefully and in an offensive manner. Out of this growth in Black membership there was uneasiness among the white members.
& SPLIT FROM ST. GEORGE – In 1787, it was during prayer when Richard Allen and Absalom Jones were on their knees praying in the lower gallery when they were told they had to get up. Allen said, ‘Wait until the Prayer is over,” “Wait until the Prayer is over and I will get up and trouble you no more.” The prayer ended and Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and other Blacks left the church.
FORMATION OF THE FAS (Free African Society) After leaving St. George’s, the FAS (Free African Society) was formed, with Richard Allen ministering to the spiritual, educational, and general needs of his people. There were differences within the FAS and began taking on the Quaker culture, but Allen resolved to remain Methodist.
Because Allen did not support the Quaker worship style, in 1789 Allen was read out of FAS. Even though Allen was disassociated with the FAS, he supported the plan to form the nation’s first black church. Allen and others in the community contributed monetary support toward this cause. The FAS gave Richard Allen the responsibility of buying land for the church. Using his own money, he purchased a plot of land at 6th and Lombard, already a historic Black community. However, the FAS decided to build a church outside of the black community and the groundbreaking was in 1791. Richard Allen attended the groundbreaking. The FAS voted to be Episcopalian even though Allen and Absalom Jones wanted to be Methodist.
“Think BIG with Faith, Expecting Miracles, Signs and Wonders” Mark 16:14-18
Vision and Purpose: Our vision and Purpose is to have Purposeful Worship; Intentional Discipleship and Community Trusteeship.
Mission: The Mission of the AME Church is to minister to the social, spiritual, and physical development of all people by spreading Christ’s liberating gospel through word and deed.
Motto: “God our Father Christ our Redeemer the Holy Spirit our Comforter Human Kind our Family”
About God
God is the creator and ruler of the universe. He has eternally existed in three persons – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.
Genesis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2; Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14
About Man
Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like him in character. He is the supreme object of God’s creation. Although man has tremendous potential for good, he is marred by an attitude of disobedience toward God called “sin.” This attitude separates man from God.
Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6a; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1, 2
About Eternity
Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in union with God through forgiveness and salvation. To be eternally separated from God is hell. To be eternally in union with him is eternal life. Heaven and hell are places of eternal existence.
John 3:16; 1 John 2:25; 1 John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 25:31-46
About Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is co-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to heaven’s glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Matthew 1:22, 23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14, 15; 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4; Romans 1:3, 4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14, 15; Titus 2:13
About Salvation
Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by self-improvement or good works – only by trusting in Jesus Christ as God’s offer of forgiveness can man be saved from sin’s penalty. Eternal life begins the moment one receives Jesus Christ into his life by faith.
Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8, 9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1
About Eternal Security
Because God gives man eternal life through Jesus Christ, the believer is secure in salvation for eternity. Salvation is maintained by the grace and power of God, not by the self-effort of the Christian.
John 10:29; 2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 7:25; 10:10, 14; 1 Peter 1:3-5
About The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. He is present in the world to make men aware of their need for Jesus Christ. He also lives in every Christian from the moment of salvation. He provides the Christian with power for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. The Christian seeks to live under his control daily.
2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16, 17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1
About The Bible
The Bible is God’s word to all men. It was written by human authors, under the supernatural guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because it is inspired by God, it is truth without any mixture of error.
2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105,160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5
About Baptism
Baptism by immersion symbolizes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus and is your public declaration that you have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior. Baptism does not save you, but shows the world that you have already been saved. And while baptism is not required for salvation, it is a biblical command and demonstrates your love and obedience to Christ.
Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:41; Ephesians 2: 8-9; Matthew 28:19-20
About Communion
Communion, or the Lord’s Supper, is an ordinance given to all believers by Jesus Christ to remember his sacrifice for us and to symbolize the new covenant. The elements of bread and wine or juice are symbols of Christ’s broken body and shed blood. Communion is not a means of salvation. Rather, it is a testament of a believer’s faith in the atoning work of the cross.
Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:19,20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29