REV Barbara Devine Russell

The South Mississippi Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church REV Barbara Devine Russell

This book is a compilation of the histories of the establishment and growth of the churches that comprise the South Mississippi Annual Conference (SMC) of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Zion Church from 1891 to 2013. Due to the vigorous evangelistic activity of missionary preachers Grandison (Granderson) Sims, I. J. Murphy, and others, you will discover several of the churches were founded before the SMC was organized in 1891. Even though each church history is unique, we find that the struggles are the same. God has been good. He brought us through. Churches were organized under old oak trees, some in brush harbors, and others in members homes. All churches lost their identity during the civil war; and later, some burned, some were blown away by hurricanes, and others collapsed. But God has been good. He brought us through the storm, the wind, and the rain and allowed us to rebuild bigger and better each time. Now we can worship in comfort. The SMC is a loving and caring family of churches that have struggled and survived together for over two hundred. We have grown, but there is still much room to grow. Still more territory to conquer for the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ.