Kimberly Norris
The Americus Times-Recorder
AMERICUS —
The church’s pastor, Nathaniel Veal Jr., who has been with Allen Chapel A.M.E. for three and half years, is witnessing the new changes that the church is experiencing relative to location, facility size, ministries and mindset.
“We want to be more proactive in the community,” Veal said. “We want to be a family-focused ministry, covering all aspects from mentoring of young people and single parents, financial ministries, day care, after school programs and marriage, as well.
“As pastor, I saw this as my vision for community involvement. No longer do we have to be an isolated church, but one that ministers outside these four walls,” he said.
Veal said that the old church was instrumental in the civil rights era.
“We thank those that dedicated their lives and time during a movement that changed the life of a culture,” Veal said.
The church moved the first Sunday of November 2009, from its previous location at 103 Carter St. to its current location on Bumphead Road. Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church has been in existence for 108 years.
“Any time you’ve been in a church that long, eventually there comes a time to build and expand,” said Veal. “I want to thank the members for 108 years of commitment to Allen Chapel to make it the great church that it is. The future looks bright here at Allen, and I’m excited about what God’s going to do with the new ministries and new programs. We’re excited about the church dedication, which will take place Sunday at 3 p.m.”
Bishop William P. DeVeaux will be performing the dedication.
