In 1925, a few devoted men and women believed their community needed prayer and began assembling for weekly prayer meetings.  From this prayer group, Union Bethel AME Church was born. The weekly prayer meetings were so successful, they were compelled to establish a neighborhood church. As a result, on June 14, 1926, the founders Bro. and Sis Cason, Bro. and Sis, Israel Siplin, Sis. Lena Peal, Sis. Mattie Jones, Sis. Lillie Brown and others were present for an organizational meeting. The group under the leadership of Rev. W. McNeil Harris, Bro. Siplin and Rev. Drumand, organized the church and named her, Bethel Union. Rev. Harris served as interim Pastor, carrying the organization to the 1925 Annual Conference. He was appointed as the first Pastor during that conference year.

 

Union Bethel moved to an old school building on Oregon and Green Streets for worship. The church remained there until 1928 when the Rev. A. Sampson realized the need for a permanent place of worship and influenced the congregation to purchase property at 905 Chestnut St., establishing a worship center and parsonage. In 1939, the church and parsonage were required to relocate for the construction for public housing. Pastor A. W. Smith, and officers secured a temporary place of worship on Garcia St. while the new church was under construction at 1012 Laurel St. Construction of the new church took place between 1940 and 1941, and it was during this time that the church became known as “Bethel AME Church.”

 

Numerous pastors have planted, sowed, and reaped harvests at the Union Bethel/Bethel AME Church. The legacy includes Reverends Drumand, A. L. Sampson, H. J. Kinsey, G. G. Oats, C. C. Brooks, Newton, A. W. Smith, F. C. Sanchez, L. A. Cousin, B. F. Ross, and O. F. Neal. Rev. W. M. Robinson burned the mortgage and added new seating for the church. Thereafter, Rev. A. D. Burton completed the annex and built a parsonage. Rev. J. J. Heath renovated the church’s interior and laid the second cornerstone for the church. Other Shepherds include Rev. M. M. Martin, Rev. F. L. Gillians, and Rev. R. W. Womack who was instrumental in the purchase of the property on the corner of Laurel and Monroe. He was followed by Rev. Christopher, Rev. Jimmy J. Thompson, Rev. A. Z. Russ, interim Pastor, Rev. Singfield, Rev. Padgett, and Rev. Cox who organized the Mass and youth choirs, and the installation of a P. A. system. Rev. Barkley installed a much-needed handicap ramp making the church accessible to all. Rev. Stephens installed central air and heat. They were followed by Rev. Slade and Rev. Theopulas Robinson. In 2004 Rev. Beverly Hills Lane was appointed as the first female Pastor in church history. Under her leadership the church was required to relocate for a third time, as Interstate 275 was being widened. It was under her leadership that the current edifice was purchased. A ceremony was held on May 21, 2005 to commemorate this accomplishment. The Presiding Prelate, Bishop McKinley Young, dedicated the new sanctuary on May 6, 2006. Rev. Lane served God at Bethel until her retirement in 2014. In that same year Rev. Bobby L. Jacobs was appointed Pastor, he was followed by Rev. Karen Jackson Sims. During her leadership, the church was confronted with damage from the impact of hurricane Irma to the church, parsonage and grounds. On one accord, Pastor Sims and the congregation worked to beautifully restore God’s House, and the parsonage while working with Hillsborough County leaders to ensure that such flooding would not happen again.

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In October of 2019, at the 79th Session of the West Coast Annual Conference, Rev. R. A. Polk was appointed pastor. Rev. Polk has been instrumental in continuing the work of bringing Bethel into the 21st Century with a new branding and marketing campaign which included a dynamic webpage and logo. During his leadership, the church and the world was forced to pivot on March 11, 2020, as the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Due to this pandemic, and Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations of social distance and reduced building capacity, Pastor Polk recognized the urgency and importance of the utilization of various social media platforms. Bethel AMEC has effectively and comfortably embraced modern technology with the implementation of online services, through Facebook, YouTube and Holy Connection, allowing members to simply log-in for church services and information gathering, including communications from the 11th Episcopal District, the West Coast Conference and the Trending Tampa District.

 

“The Doors Of The Church Are Still Open and God Is Still In Charge.”