As the African American experience in America has forged community, resilience and innovation, the Black church has served as a pillar for African Americans in times of poverty, systematic oppression and racial injustice.
Historically, the Black church has not only served as a place of worship, but also an economic epicenter for Black-owned businesses, social services, and refuge. Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida, has served as that light in the local Black community since 1870.
“One of the things that was the greatest benefit of the community and of the civil rights movement was the Black church,” said Pastor Derek Steele, son of Reverend CK Steele, who was the former pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church. “It was Black pastors who were able to get involved, not worried about the support of their family, because their checks didn’t depend on white people, their paycheck depended on the people supporting them … there were educated leaders who were filled with the Spirit of God to lead the movement.”
Founded by a former enslaved man known as Father James Page, Bethel Missionary Baptist Church has served a vital role in the progression of the African American community. While traditional religious spaces have been known to be confined to the four walls of a physical building, Bethel has led a legacy of providing ministry and resources to the community…