Introduction
The Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church is among the oldest churches serving the black population. The Church, founded in 1885, serves the African American congregation in Fort Myers/Lee County, Florida. The core purpose and goal of establishing the Church was to create a free African society. The Church has lasted for approximately 135 years by actively saving sinners and aiding the poor in the community (Williams, 2019).
According to Ann (2022), various scholars have studied the Mount Olive AME Church to impart essential lessons to current and new churches. To understand the Mount Olive AME Church, it is critical to discuss the Church’s historical background and theology. This paper will discuss the historical background of the Church. It will also discuss its significance in the contemporary age. Lastly, the paper will highlight the social injustices and contemporary civil issues associated with the Mount Olive AME Church.
Mt. Olive, Fort Myers, History and Theology
The Church was established by Reverend Robert Meacham in 1885 to serve black Americans. During its creation period, African Americans were discriminated against in places of worship. The first service was held at the Lee County Courthouse (Williams, 2019). This was an extraordinary site for a religious gathering. The extraordinary sites of gathering continue in the subsequent masses. For instance, the next meeting spot was Mr. R.I.O. Davis’s home.
On several occasions, Mr. Davis’s compound was used for worship sessions because his property lines included Park Street, Second Street, Evans Avenue, and several acres. This spot was significant for the congregation because it was located one block west of the railroad tracks in a predominantly white area of Fort Myers. Another religious meeting site was the ancient hall located on the ditch bank of Guava Street, and a soft drink factory owned by a white man named Major Evans. This site became very important to the church members because Reverend Dorsey established Mount Olive at this location (Ann, 2022). For a long time, the Church called that location home.
The congregation, headed by the very competent and much-adored Reverend M. D. Potter, relocated to the intersection of Hough Street and Anderson Avenue (now known as Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard). However, in 1996, A cyclone destroyed the Church, leaving the members without a place to gather (Williams, 2019). Even though the church service was interrupted once again by relocation, the faithful congregation continued to pray.
The Church relocated to Williams Academy School, located at the corner of Lemon and Cranford Streets. According to Williams (2019), they gather at the school for approximately three years. They held colossal fundraising efforts and prayers to build a church. The fundraising was a success, resulting in the groundbreaking for the current location in 1929 at 2754 Orange Street (William, 2019). The groundbreaking was a significant step for the Church, marking the beginning of a new, permanent worship space.
At that time, the Church was a red brick structure. The Church’s red brick exterior was covered with white plaster and painted over time. Due to the increase in congregation, the Church had to expand its place of worship. New buildings were constructed in 1996 and 2010 to accommodate the growing membership of Mount Olive AME Church, a testament to the Church’s remarkable growth and development under the leadership of pastors such as Rev. R. J. Campbell, Rev. Willie D. Young, and Rev. H.L. Smith Sr. (Williams, 2019). On May 7, 2023, the Church opened another, larger building to cater to its growing congregation. On the same day, Bishop Frank Madison Reid III and seven Presiding Elders were dedicated as leaders of their respective churches. It is worth noting that the members’ faith, tenacity, and sense of community played a crucial role in its flourishing.
Prophetic Voice for This Day and Age
The commonly asked question is whether Mt. Olive possesses prophetic voices for the present day and age. Multiple researches indicate that Mt. Olive has multiple prophetic voices to teach the current churches ways to be successful and to serve their purpose. Contemporary churches gain various prophetic messages from Mount Olive AME Church. It is common for current churches to draw on Mount Olive’s history as a foundation for specific projects and teachings. This section will discuss some prophetic voices that churches gain from Mount Olive.
The main prophetic message for the current era from Mount Olive is to have an outward focus. Its mission is to share the gospel and the love of Christ with the world. According to Gill (2020), the Church’s primary objective was to save sinners and provide for the poor. The Church cares for both the members and non-members. They prioritize the needs of others over their own. They emulate Christ, who gave his life for others.
Many churches today fail in their mission to reach out to the community. Pastors and Church leaders act as chaplains or guardians of autonomous congregations while members turn inward, focusing on their needs and those of the Church (Gill, 2020). Members of the Church are human, and as such, they seek the satisfaction of their wants. They eventually become fruitless and wither on the vine, losing their path.
Besides the outward focus, another prophetic message to the current age is wise administration and accountability. The leaders successfully participate in prudent management and accountability by establishing objectives and setting goals for themselves and the Church. Mount Olive has had several strong and capable leaders since its founding in 1885 (Evans, 1992). The presence of astute leaders who prioritize the Church’s mission led to a rise in membership.
The church leaders outline the congregation’s long-term goals and provide specific guidelines for ongoing initiatives. These Goals outline the congregation’s mission and help ensure consistency in its operations. However, the goals emerge from the aims and prevent the former from devolving into the latter (Evans, 1992). Today’s clergy are often careless with the welfare of their flock. They fail to set priorities for the Church’s most essential departments.
Another important prophetic voice from Mount Olive to the current Church is networking with the body of Christ. The development and maintenance of Christian friendships is its central focus. The church pastors actively coordinate worship services and social events with other local churches. Moreover, local clergy participate in interfaith prayer gatherings with counterparts from other religions. Mount Olive AME Church’s founding pastor, Reverend Robert Meacham, stressed the value of community (Lincoln & Mamiya, 1990). He urged the Church to pray as a group and to welcome guests of other faiths.
The Church’s growth is greatly aided by such networking inside the body of Christ. Pastors in the Church often reference Paul’s writings in which he refers to the Church as the “body of Christ” to emphasize the importance of community. Unfortunately, most churches in the modern day do not place a strong emphasis on fellowship. These lead to Many interfaith conflicts that become barriers to fellowship. Pastors are not engaged in interfaith prayer meetings with the pastors from the other faiths in the community.
The last prophetic voice to the current age is the commitment to loving and caring relationships. Mount Olive members and their families share their love for one another in many different ways. The principal evidence of loving and caring relationships is excellent communication and the ability to resolve conflicts (Gill, 2020). Good relationships play a key role in church growth. The Church grows because of the love shared by its members.
However, in most modern churches, members’ and families’ love for one another is not shown or shared in any significant way. There is a widespread breakdown in communication and a reluctance or refusal to address complex topics, such as dispute resolution and reconciliation, within the context of God’s Word. Multiple studies indicate that the Church is facing challenges in its interpersonal relationships. Due to these persistent issues, visitors and potential new members are less likely to want to associate with or join the Church.
Involvement in Social Justice
Equality
Despite the Church’s success, it continues to face various social injustices. This Church faces multiple social problems, mainly due to race. For instance, the Church is currently protesting against injustice regarding a $1.1 billion grant (Masur, 2021). As Masur (2021) states, the Dunbar Community, which is a low-to-moderate income area, received $1.1 billion from HUD to help rebuild after Hurricane Ian. The Mayor and County Commissioners do not support this initiative. They are attempting to reinvest the money in other initiatives and neighborhoods they believe need the funds. Although the county commissioner claims the funds are being used appropriately, the community members do not benefit.
On May 24, 2023, the Lee County Commissioners convened a town hall meeting on resilience at Dunbar High School in Fort Myers, Florida. The public was invited to weigh in on how best to spend $1.1 billion in government funding, with $70 million earmarked for affordable housing in metropolitan areas (Masur, 2021). The county commissioner offered up three key alternatives. The first choice was deregulation, loosening housing restrictions, and maintaining the status quo. The second choice would favor “Cookie-Cutter” housing in the name of higher density and less concern for the environment. Finally, government requirements were aligned with incentive development for vulnerable groups.
However, the Church doubts the county’s sincerity in its stated goals for the funds. Pastor James Givens claimed that the interests of the Dunbar Community are being disregarded by Lee County’s attempts to alter housing choices (Masur, 2021). County residents requested clarification from county officials on the allocation of funds, timetables, and representation to avoid being used as “numbers” without understanding the process. The Dunbar community asserts that the county commissioner’s proposed course of action would primarily benefit the wealthy at the expense of those in need of rehabilitation.
Mount Olive’s Pastor, James Givens, was adamant about maintaining openness. Therefore, he formed a Town Hall group called “Pastors in Black” to advocate for social justice (Masur, 2021). In this case, the Church plays a significant role in fighting the lack of openness and fairness in allocating funds in the Lee community (Penningroth, 2021). The county government does not prioritize resident concerns while making decisions.
Human Trafficking
Another social injustice that the Mount Olive is human trafficking. During the grand opening of the new building on May 23, 2023, Pastor Givens mentioned that the Church’s unique mission is to combat human trafficking, which is rising at an alarming rate. According to pastor Givens, multiple individuals in the community are sold through human trafficking. To aid victims of human trafficking in Southwest Florida, Pastor Givens teamed up with Anti-Trafficking Activist Ramona Miller. Ramona Miller, an activist, has previously assisted victims of human trafficking by taking them outside the neighborhood (Brownlee, 2023). Working with the Church has enabled activist Ramona Miller to keep the survivors close to home. According to Pastor Givens, they have already begun this work by providing coupons for hygiene goods and clothing to evacuees.
Due to Pastor Givens’ efforts, youth are also a focus of Mount Olive’s new facility. It features a basketball court and gaming rooms, and they are currently working on adding a gym to serve as a community hub on days other than Sundays. The Church is committed to eradicating human trafficking in the community by providing its members with excellent facilities (Brownlee, 2023). The facilities also ensure that individuals who have escaped or been rescued from traffickers feel at home while in the new building. These bold steps by the Church demonstrate that this social injustice is occurring at an alarming rate, and there is a pressing need to be addressed.
Conclusion
The Mount Olive AME Church is significant globally. Historically, it was the first Church established for the black community. This Church was established in 1885 to carry out the spirit of the original Free African Society. Unlike older churches that collapsed, Mount Olive thrived over the years. Their opening of the new building in May 2023 was fully packed, indicating the Church’s expansion.
It is correct to say that the Church is doing multiple things correctly that contribute significantly to its expansion. This Church’s thriving shows that Mt. Olive possesses various prophetic messages for the current age. For instance, the Church is taught to have an outward focus and to be the body of Christ. It also teaches the Church about fellowship and the expression of love. Most of the current churches lack these essential traits, leading to numerous conflicts and the decline of the churches.
Although the Mount Olive AME Church is expanding significantly, it continues to face various social injustices. The recent injustices are human trafficking and inequality. The Dunbar community, where the Church is playing an active role in ensuring that these social injustices do not negatively affect society. The Church has implemented various steps and strategies to address these issues. For instance, the church leaders, pastor givens, established an organization to ensure equality of the granted funds.
References
Ann, M. (2022). History. Mt.OliveAME.
Evans, J. H. (1992). We have been believers: An African-American systematic theology. Fortress Press.
Gill, O. (2020). A revitalization and growth strategy for the African Methodist. Liberty University.
Lincoln, C. E., & Mamiya, L. H. (1990). The religious dimension: Toward a sociology of Black churches. The Black church in the African American experience, 1-19.
Masur, K. (2021). Until justice be done: America’s first civil rights movement, from the revolution to reconstruction. WW Norton & Company.
Penningroth, D. C. (2021). Everyday use: A history of civil rights in Black churches. Journal of American History, 107(4), 871-898.
Williams, J. (2019). Black history month: Bunche Beach in Fort Myers. FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX.
Brownlee, B. (2023). Church in the Dunbar community has new mission with grand opening. FOX 4 News Fort Myers WFTX.