Condolences may be sent to the T’Ofori-Atta family at 3240 Valleydale Drive, Atlanta, GA  30311. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori-Atta can be sent to RHAW/ITC, 700 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr., Atlanta, GA 30314.

Please contact the church with any questions at (404) 691-4075 or email us at churchadministrator@faithamezion.org. Please continue to keep the family in prayer.

Some weeks ago during morning worship service, an announcement of Faith’s Men’s Day keynote preacher was met with roaring applause. That roaring applause was matched with high praise and attentive ears weeks later on August 28, 2011, as Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori-Atta mounted the pulpit on Men’s Day to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. It seemed everyone was sitting on the edge of their pews to hear what God had implanted in Dr. T to share with those gathered that morning. It is no secret that Dr. T is a miracle among us. Through God’s abounding grace and mercy, He has allowed Dr. T to overcome great illness and to remain with us a little while longer to fulfill his purpose. Praise the Lord!

The Women’s Chorus provided powerful music on Men’s Day, including special music requested by Dr. T. Songs uplifted by the choir were ”Order My Steps”, “Take Me Back”, and “Ride on King Jesus”. A member of Faith offered a special selection during service as well, “Kumbaya, My Lord”. Service concluded with Pastor Love announcing the creation of the Dr. T’Ofori-Atta Lectures: Africa Calling. Pastor Love announced that Dr. T will be instrumental in the teaching, as well as instrumental in the planning of guest presenters and panelists. More information on dates and guests coming soon. Stay tuned!

To see pictorial highlights from Men’s Day, click here to be forwarded to Faith’s Facebook page.

Faith touched the community a second consecutive year with its 7 Days of Outreach, held August 7-13, 2011. It is one of the church’s efforts to express the love of Jesus Christ to those around them. The Week included A Hometown Heroes Celebration, Clothes Give-a-Way, School Supply Donations to a local Children’s Home, Community Meal, Movie on the Lawn, and a Block Party.

Click here to view pictorial highlights on our Facebook page.

Mother Adams Brown is Faith’s oldest living member. To her surprise that Sunday morning, she awoke to a chaffeured car waiting to escort her to service. Upon arrival to church she was surprised to see the Worship program especially designed and arranged in her honor. The surprises continued when she saw her sister, niece, daughter, family, and friends walk into the church. Included with the surprise guests was a generation of the family she cared for in her working days. Understandably, Mother Adams Brown allowed her emotions to flow, no longer being able to hold back her tears of joy. But the surprises did not stop there. Pastor Love delivered a sermon with a title direct from Mother Adams Brown’s mouth dating back to a conversation of counsel some months before, “God’s Will Must Be Carried Out”. What a mighty word! Before service ended, Mother Adams Brown was escorted to the front of the church by her Class Leader, Daniel Wright, Jr. and seated in a chair covered in lace fabric. Letters were read from government officials and the community recognizing Mother Adams Brown for her 100 years of living. Headlining those to be read was a special note from the The White House, addressed to Mother Adams Brown and signed by United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, with words of commendation and honor. Following the letters, members arose from their seats to individually present Mother Adams Brown with one of her favorite things-flowers. Pastor Love then presented a special surprise. To symbolize Mother Adams Brown covering her church family in prayer and wisdom, Pastor Love covered her with a gold, embroidered, and monogramed cloak, made custom by a member of Faith. Service concluded with moving words from the honoree herself. There was not a dry eye in the sanctuary. Pastor Love gave the benediction with Mother Adams Brown by his side. The Celebration continued into Fellowship Hall with a beautifully prepared dinner and the unveiling of a framed photo collage of Mother Adams Brown.

To see pictorial highlights from the Celebration, click here to be forwarded to the album on Faith’s Facebook page.

Mother Adams Brown was born June 30, 1911 to Sarah Gilree Hagwood and Will Henry Hagwood in Lexington, Georgia.  She was given the name Georgia Ann Hagwood.  The eldest of three sisters, Cornelius, Caroline, and Sarah; young Georgia lost her mother at the tender age of eight.  She and her three sisters were raised by two wonderful and “sweet” grandparents, Wyait and Caroline Gilree.  In 1929,  Mother Adams Brown birth to a beautiful baby boy, Mack “Bo” Catlin, Jr.  Bo passed away at the age of 15 from a childhood illness.

In 1942, she began working with the Holcomb–McMillian family and became part of the family for five generations.  To this day, many of the Holcomb-McMillian offspring credit Mother Adams for their good childhood rearing. While working in Highlands, North Carolina, beautiful Georgia met the young charismatic Alvin Adams.  In 1944, she married the late Alvin Adams and moved to Macon, Georgia where they lived for many years. In 2004, at the spry age of 93, Mother Adams married the very handsome Henry Brown, a two-time Purple Heart WWII hero.  From this  marriage, she gained a beautiful and devoted daughter Patricia Robinson.

Mother Adams credits God for a life of bountiful blessings, shared with a host of family members, extended family and friends.  She loves to cook and bake, often making cakes for church events.  She continues to count as her greatest gifts, her Sister Sarah who she affectionately refers to as “Baby”, her niece Ms. Lucy, her daughter Pat, her extended family son Charlie, and her beloved dog Smokey.

Mother Adams’  life is a testament to her love of God, her unyielding faith, and her love for people. She says that the secret to long life is simply, “Serve God in everything you do, live a good clean life and treat everybody right.”

We thank God for Mother Georgia Adams Brown!

To see pictorial highlights from the program, click here to be forwarded to the album on our Facebook page.

Rev. Dr. Ndugu T’Ofori Atta is professor emeritus of Church and Society at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, GA. Dr. T’Ofori Atta is founder and director of the Religious Heritage of the African World project. An ordained minister of the AME Zion church, T’Ofori Atta worked as a missionary in the former Belgian Congo in the 1950s and 60s where he made important links to the Kimbanguist independent African church movement. He is a founding organizer of the Pan African Christian Conference.

Dr. T’s contributions to Zion include pastorates at Mt. Washington in Pittsburgh, Pa,; Charleston in West Virginia; Rush Church in Cambridge, Mass; and in North Carolina – East Spencer in Salisbury and St. Paul in Hickory. In Atlanta, Georgia twice at Shaw Temple in ‘70s and 80’s; and three times at Bush Chapel, Winder, GA. He also served as Presiding Elder of the North Georgia Conference in ‘80’s under Bishops Arthur Marshall and Cecil Bishop.  Other bishops he served under include: Bishop W.J. Walls, Bishop C. Coleman, Bishop C. Foggie, Bishop H. Anderson and Bishop G. Battle.  Dr. T retired in 1999, but was called out after one day, to pastor the new society Faith, as Faith’s first pastor in Atlanta.  Faith’s journey was in 4 locations in 5 years before repurchasing the old Shaw Temple building.  During the travel in the wilderness after 4 years, 11+acres of land was purchased in Atlanta, making this the 3rd property secured for Zion (in Atlanta alone) during his pastoral experiences. While serving as pastor of Faith under Bishop Joseph Johnson and then Bishop Clarence Carr, he was appointed by Bishop Carr as Director of Strategic Planning for the State of Georgia.  At the 2006 Annual Conference, Dr. T was officially retired from active ministry.

The Sistah Friend Circle is an effort to walk out the mission of Faith AME  Zion Church, which is, “Building Kingdom People for Kingdom Living by Empowering, Equipping, Encouraging, & Expressing the love of Jesus Christ”. Many seeds of prayer and resources have been sown into the Circle and its endeavors. We are intentional about changing lives. You are welcome to join us in our journey to make a sincere difference in a “sistah’s” life, beginning with yourself.

MARCH 9 (Ash Wednesday), 7 pm
Topic: Stand
Preacher: Rev. Jawwad J. Love

Wednesday, MARCH 16, 7 pm
Topic: Gird Your Waist with Truth
Preacher: Rev. Roseanna Brannon

Wednesday, March 23, 7 pm
Topic: Breastplate of Righteousness
Preacher: Bro. Solomon Missouri

Wednesday, March 30, 7 pm
Topic: Feet with the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace
Preacher: Bro. Anthony Brown

Wednesday, APRIL 6, 7 pm
Topic: Shield of Faith
Preacher: Bro. John Richardson

Wednesday, APRIL 13, 7 pm
Topic: Helmet of Salvation
Preacher: Sis. Laquinnya Missouri

Wednesday, APRIL 20, 7 pm
Topic: Sword of the Spirit
Preacher: Rev. Michelle Madison

Thursday, April 21, 7 pm
Maundy Thursday
Preacher: Rev. Jawwad J. Love

Friday, April 22, Noon
Special Good Friday Service

Sunday, April 24, 10 am
Resurrection Sunday Service

Click on the thumbnail below to view the highlight.

Faith hosted the 143rd session of the Georgia Annual Conference, held October 6-10. The yearly meeting brings AME Zion congregations together from across the state for worship, planning sessions and discussions of issues facing the church.

The conference theme was “Maximizing our Mission by Managing our Ministry”. The conference schedule included a Communion Service, business sessions, Christian education, and worship services. God was surely present!

The Right Reverend Kenneth Monroe, the 95th Bishop in succession of the AMEZ Church, is the presiding prelate of the South Atlantic Episcopal District. Sheila Monroe is the Missionary Supervisor, Rev. Dr. John Paul Ruth is the Host Presiding Elder of the Atlanta District and Rev. Jawwad J. Love is the Host pastor. The Right Reverend Dr. Louis Hunter, Sr. and Mrs. Ingrid Hunter served as Associate Bishop and Associate Missionary Supervisor during the conference.

Pictorial Highlights include:

Communion Service (Click thumbnail image below to view highlights)

Sunday Service (Click thumbnail image below to view highlights)

Hospitality (Click thumbnail image below to view highlights)

Originally affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, AME Zion was organized in 1796 in New York City and separated from the Methodist Episcopal Church two years later. In 1864 AME Zion arrived in the South, establishing itself in North Carolina under the leadership of James Walker Hood, who was elected bishop in 1872. The following year the AME Zion General Conference established the Louisiana Conference, which included Georgia and all other states south of North Carolina.

After the war the denomination continued to recruit new members from the African American communities in the southern states. In 1867 Georgia was designated as a separate conference, and in 1885 the North Georgia Conference was organized by Bishop Thomas Henry Lomax, who had earlier served with Hood in North Carolina and was elected bishop in 1876.

Along with the AME and CME churches, AME Zion congregations were active in the civil rights movement of the mid-twentieth century. The three denominations continue to maintain strong ties with one another in the twenty-first century.