Ministerial Staff
Rev. D’Mrtri Crafton Burke
Bro. Hinson Howard, Jr., Exhorter
Rev. D’Mrtri Crafton Burke
Bro. Hinson Howard, Jr., Exhorter
God our Father, Christ our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit our Comforter, Humankind our Family.
AFRICAN – means that people of African descent and heritage organized the church. It does not mean that the church was founded in Africa or that it is for people of African descent only. It does mean that those Americans who founded it were of African descent and we proudly recognize this fact. We welcome all who worship Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
METHODIST – refers to the church’s membership in the family of Methodist churches. Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop, felt that the form and format of Methodism would best suit the needs of the African community at that time.
EPISCOPAL – refers to the form of government under which the church operates. The Episcopal form of government means that the chief executive and administrative officers of our denomination are our bishops. The General Conference, elected representatives of the entire denomination, gives them their authority. Their responsibilities are to oversee the spiritual and temporal affairs of the church.
In 1787, Reverend Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and a band of followers withdrew from the St. George’s Methodist Church in Philadelphia because of the “unkind treatment” and discrimination with which these worshippers of African descent faced. They felt they no longer could worship in a congregation that would not affirm them fully as children of God with equal potential and worth. Allen and the others began worshipping in a blacksmith shop. They founded the Free African Society, which was the beginning of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AMEC).
In 1888, 15 years after the abolishment of chattel slavery in the United States, and 8 years after the boom in membership of the A.M.E. Church, pioneers of what was then known as Brooklyn expanded their newfound freedom to include their freedom of worship in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The cornerstone of Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church reveals that the founding members were courageous and possessed a vision spanning into the next century and beyond. Records indicate on July 27, 1888 the establishment of Mt. Moriah Brooklyn was under the leadership of Pastor C. Brooks, followed by Rev. R.W. Chadwick, Rev. Bannerman, Rev. J. W. Jones, Rev. Kenneth White, Rev. Solomon Waterford, Rev. Joseph Pierce, Rev. Leroy Sneed, Rev. C. S. McFarland, Rev. Maurice Buford, Rev. Robert Postell, Rev. Gary C. DeSue, Sr., and the last serving pastor of Mt. Moriah AMEC and the only female to ever pastor Mt. Moriah was Rev. Jacqueline DuPree Pugh.
In the year of 1923, a few inspired men and women deemed it necessary to organize an A.M.E. Church in another community. Rev. J. A. Gibson was appointed as pastor and served faithfully. This was the beginning of St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. W. F. Foster was appointed as Pastor in 1926 and served for two years. The membership is grateful for the other Ministers who passed their way. They were: Reverends C. E. Cook, R. A. Blunt, A. W. Williams, G. H. Baker, B. J. McGruder, S. J. Holly, D. W. Williams, J. W. Watkins, H. J. Jones, J. L. Joyner, H. L. Edmonds, L. J. George, N. McCray, A. M. Scott, A. D. Harris, E. L. O’Neal, Eugene Mobley, Sr., W. T. Merritt, George Young, Marcus Burke, John Farmer, Granville Reed, III, W. C. Brown, E. L. Taylor , Rev. Dr. Marcius O. King and Rev. Gary DeSue. These God-sent men served the church well and caused it to grow in membership and status.
After many years of serving God, their congregations, and the community; one church wandered in the wilderness searching for a church home and the other was threatened with foreclosure. Seeing the need to prevent two congregations from disbanding and going other places, Bishop McKinley Young, then Presiding Prelate of the 11th Episcopal District, placed both churches in the capable hands of the Presiding Elder of the Alachua‐Central District, Rev. Elizabeth E. Yates. In March 2012, these two congregations; Mt. Moriah AME and St. Matthew AME merged together to become one dynamic congregation – New Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church at 880 Melson Avenue, Jacksonville, FL.
Elder Yates, with her multiple talents and business sense, gathered the two congregations and assured us that with God’s help and having faith, everything will work out. She further assured us that whatever position you held in your former church would remain the same. This helped to settle the minds of the officers of both congregations.
Unable to attend every service on Sundays, Elder Yates, who was Interim Pastor, would exercise her authority and allow a supply minister to carry on with the worship services, assisted by the stewards. She continued with the official business of the church and conferences.
Minister Estdella Cooper, member of St. Paul AMEC, Jacksonville carried on from January 2012 to July 2012. The second Sunday in July, Rev. Sha’Reff Rashad was assigned by Elder Yates to serve the church until Annual Conference. At the 136th Session of the East Annual Conference, Rev. Rashad was appointed as Pastor of New Mt. Moriah by Bishop Adam J. Richardson.
In exemplifying his love for God and people, Rev. Rashad has increased the attendance in Bible Study and Church School, especially with the Young people. Rev. Rashad has instituted new ideas such as ‘Feed My Lamb’ messages on Youth Sunday and a new Acolyte ministry on Communion Sundays. The Stewardship and Finance Commission has been restructured, the New Members Orientation Manual, Church Use Policy, and Funeral Guide for members and non‐members has been revised, the music ministry has been enhanced and Rev. Rashad continues to implement new and innovative ideas to continue doing God’s Work God’s Way. Members who had scattered and were wandering have returned. The first member (charter member), Ms. LaQuandra Denson, joined the 3rd Sunday in January, 2013.
The earliest mention of Mount Moriah in the Bible is found in Genesis 22. In it, Abraham is told to take his son Isaac to the top of this location to offer as a burnt sacrifice to the Lord. Once Abraham acted in faith to show he was willing to offer his only son to the Lord, God stopped Abraham and provided a ram instead as an offering. This is the story of New Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church. God provided for the needs of two God fearing congregations by bringing them together.
With these many accomplishments, as we now acknowledge our 3rd year after the merger, we proudly assume the age of our most senior congregation as we thank God for 130 total years of his bountiful blessings! May our hearts be inspired to carry on the rich heritage of our founder, Richard Allen, and other influential persons whose shoulders have supported and carried us through this transition. We are New Mt. Moriah African Methodist Episcopal Church family. To God Be The Glory.