Church guide

Pastor Pam delivers prayer during Wednesday's (April 3, 2019) Sedgwick County Commission meeting in downtown Wichita.

Absalom Jones was born into slavery in Sussex, Delaware in 1746. He taught himself to read in his early teens from books he purchased by saving pennies given to him by visitors to his master’s home. At the age of sixteen, Jones’ family was separated when his immediate family members were sold and he was taken to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania by his new owner. Jones worked as a clerk in his owner’s store by day and was allowed to work for himself and attend an all-black school at night. In 1770, Jones married a fellow slave, and through hard work and the help of friends and his father-in-law, he was able to buy his wife’s freedom. Jones saved enough to purchase his own freedom in 1784. He was an active member of St. George’s Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia and served as lay preacher for the black members of the congregation. In 1786, Richard Allen joined Jones at the church and their futures would forever be intertwined. The black membership at St. George’s increased tenfold as a result of the evangelistic efforts of Jones and Allen. But this increase was not welcomed by the white members of the congregation. Instead of praising their efforts, church officials responded by attempting to segregate the black congregants. During a Sunday service in November 1786, ushers attempted to remove all blacks, including Jones, from the main floor of the church to the balcony. Jones, Allen, and the black members of the congregation promptly left the church as a group. Jones and Allen subsequently founded the Free African Society on April 12, 1787. Members of this organization met regularly and paid dues which were used to benefit those in need. This organization was crucial in caring for the sick and dying of Philadelphia when a yellow fever epidemic swept the city in 1793. Out of this society grew The African Church, organized on July 7, 1791. Both Jones and Allen wanted to remain affiliated with the Methodist church, but their followers overwhelmingly voted to affiliate themselves with Episcopal Church as a result of their persecution by the Methodists at St. George’s. Allen disagreed with this decision and withdrew from the African Church, taking a small number of followers with him. Jones remained as the leader of The African Church which was formally received into the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania on October 17, 1794 and renamed St. Thomas African Episcopal Church. St. Thomas was the first black Episcopal parish in the United States. Bishop William White (bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania) ordained Jones a deacon in the Episcopal Church in 1795 and as priest in 1804. Jones became the first ordained priest of African descent in the United States. Despite the split in The African Church, Jones and Allen continued to work together. They were among the founders of the African Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia in 1798. The two men also led the black community in petitioning the Pennsylvania State Legislature for the abolition of slavery in 1799. In 1800, they sent a similar petition to the United States Congress. Jones and Allen also founded the Society for the Suppression of Vice and Immorality in 1809. In 1816, Jones saw his friend Allen consecrated the first bishop of the newly formed African Methodist Episcopal Church. And in 1817, the two men were united again when they condemned the newly formed American Colonization Society, which encouraged freed slaves to return to Africa. One year later, Absalom Jones died at his home in Philadelphia on February 13, 1818.

WOW! What a great story! Thank you KSN TV for capturing the essence of our church. We are a FAMILY and you will feel that way when you visit! We are so honored and blessed to have Pastor Pamela Hughes Myrtis-Mason usher in a NEW SEASON! Come and join us! Service is EVERY Sunday at 11AM!

#blackhistorymonth #wichitablackhistory #amechurch

We will be featured tomorrow on KSN TV at 5pm for a special look into our wonderful church. We are the oldest African-American church in the city of Wichita 🙌🏾🙏🏽

St. Paul’s own Mrs.Hayes! Such a precious spirit she had then and is continuing to do so with our Acolytes. God bless you ♥️

Candidates speaking this morning. Get out and let your voice be heard! Go vote!! KC Ohaebosim Kansas State Representative 89th District Laura Kelly Representative Gail Finney Brian 'BAM' McClendon Jim Ward

Feel free to check out our Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/Stpaulame316/

Our speaker for Friday night at Vacation Bible School is Renaire Palmer! Renaire Palmer, Owner and Operating Manager of Fundamental Fitness, a premiere community fitness and training facility. Palmer, who was recently acknowledged by Sigma Gamma Rho for his entrepreneurial skill and community impact was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas and has been involved with competitive sports and fitness since childhood. As a high school student Renaire attended Wichita High School East and participated on the Varsity Football, Basketball and Track teams. Renaire attended Kansas State University and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree. Under the leadership and direction of Coach Deb Patterson, Renaire was a member of the Kansas State University Women’s Basketball Scout Team for 4 years. Renaire Graduated from Wichita State University with his Masters of Education in Exercise Science, he then went on to teach the Strength and Conditioning course at Wichita State University. Renaire has over 14 years of experience in health and fitness. #stpaulvbs

Our speaker for Thursday night at Vacation Bible School is Tyler O'Quinn! Tyler D. O'Quinn born in Wichita, KS, 26 years old, graduated from East High School May 2010. He majored in mass communications at Cowley County Community College May 2016. He currently serves as Outreach minister at Resurrection Community Church under Pastor Ricardo Harris. He is excited to be apart of the growth at St. Paul through this Vacation Bible School and looks forward to the lives it will change in the years to come. #stpaulbvs

Our speaker for Wednesday night at Vacation Bible School is Joseph Shepard! Joseph Shepard was born and raised in the AME Church. His father, Reverend Steven D. Shepard Sr has been a pastor in the AME church for 20+ years. Watching his father’s pastoral leadership as a child has inspired Joseph to help others, no matter their walk, feel spiritually connected to God. Joseph attends St. Paul AME Church. He received his Bachelors in Criminal Justice from Wichita State and a Masters in Public Administration from Wichita State. He also served two terms as the Midwest Conference Young People’s Division President. #stpaulvbs

Hope to see you tomorrow at the Juneteenth ICT Senior Breakfast! Starts at 10:00AM. Juneteenth Bracelets can be purchased at the door for $5.00. The bracelets will gain you access to all events this week! Clink the link below to sign up! http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=diversity&p=%2fevent%2fjuneteenth%2fsenior_breakfast%2fregistration%2f

Thank You Lord....

St. Paul AME Church supports the @Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the students it serves as they prepare for finals. Survival bags for finals were given to students from St. Paul's Women's Missionary Society. WSU Office of Diversity and Inclusion

Thank You Lord....

“Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.” - Mark 8:25 We were blessed this morning by our choir and a message from Pastor Patterson on the subject “Someone in need of a second touch.” He preached about the healing of a blind man by Jesus at Bethsaida. He urged us to be like the blind man who got healing from Jesus. Jesus took the man to get away from the crowd. Jesus will do the same to us at times in order to take us through a process to get us ready for where He wants us. Pastor Patterson encouraged us to no longer look down and instead look up to the Lord and ask him for another touch. #AskGodForAnotherTouch #StPaulAME #AME

St. Paul AME Sunshine Band🌞

Eugene Jackson Men's Chorus Rehearsal! Let's Get Down!

This past Sunday we were blessed by our choir and pastor. Pastor Patterson's message, "When all we have is our faith", came from the book of Matthew in chapter 14 where John the Baptist was imprisoned and then beheaded. Pastor Patterson encouraged us that in tough times to have a spirit of faith. #Stpaulame

Praise the Lord!!!!!

Ashlee McLaurian singing Encourage Yourself. #YouthDay #StPaulAme