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About First A.M.E. The First A.M.E. Church story began on April 27, 1984, during the closing session of the Washington Annual Conference at Turner Memorial A.M.E. Church with Bishop John Hurst Adams' reading of the pastoral appointment of the Rev. Dr. Lois Ann Poag to the Rockville/Gaithersburg area. This new congregation was to be established in response to the need for an A.M.E. church to serve believers in the suburban Maryland area.
Our first fellowship (an organizational meeting) was held at the Gaithersburg Community Center on June 8, 1984. Our first worship service was scheduled for July 1, 1984 at Gaithersburg High School, which was selected because of its convenient location on Route 355, and because its choral room with a baby grand piano offered the greatest potential for a church atmosphere. That first Sunday was a glorious day of celebration. Twenty-two Christian friends attended that first service of praise and thanksgiving. The Pastor's first sermon in this new church, Cast Out Your Net (John 21:1-11), spoke to the challenge set before us. Our first three years as a church family were months of growth, struggle, and challenge as we witnessed God's miraculous power in this community of faith. Under the leadership of Rev. Poag, the church membership grew from zero to over 70 men, women, and children. A weekly Bible Study (held in the homes of various members) was organized. An Usher Board, the Dolly Desselle Adams Missionary Society, a Sunday School, a Lay Organization, a choir, and a YPD were established to meet the needs of the congregation. Collectively and individually, our Christian witness increased, and our Church family felt God's blessings in our community of faith. We planted the seeds, and God truly gave the increase. During our fourth year, we put a down payment on two and a half acres of land at 17620 Gaithersburg/Laytonsville Road--Route 124 (now Washington Grove Lane), and secured a loan for both the purchase of the land and the construction of a worship facility. The existing house on the property was renovated to serve as a church activity center. On November 14, 1987, friends from around the Washington Conference joined us as we dedicated the new Church Activity Center and broke ground for our new worship facility. In the Spring of 1988, we celebrated our first Men's Day, from which developed another organization, the Sons of Allen. Our children also were eager to participate more fully in the church; consequently, a Junior Usher Board was formed and later the Sunbeam Choir, consisting of children ages 12 and under, was formed and continues to sing. The women held their first Women's Day in the fall of 1988, which was both a spiritual and financial success. Work on the new building began in June 1988, as we praised God for yet another miracle! Eight months later, the First A.M.E. Gaithersburg Church House became a reality. And the First A.M.E. family continued to grow! Several choirs were formed--the Agape Choir, the Voices of Inspiration, the Promises of Tomorrow (Youth Choir), and the Men's Ensemble. The Prison Ministry was formed and regularly holds service at the Montgomery County Detention Center. In the spring of 1992, the church-wide Parking Lot Project was completed--another miracle. In 1993, the Rev. E. Lewis Williams was assigned as the first full-time pastor of the First A.M.E. flock, to continue the Miracle in Gaithersburg. Under Rev. Williams' leadership, the Intercessory Prayer Ministry, the Career Ministry, the Tape Ministry, and Bible Study for Young People were established. In November 1996, Rev. Charles D. Smith was appointed to lead the First A.M.E. flock. Under Rev. Smith's leadership, new ministries began, other ministries expanded, and the building program was reinstituted. The youth Bible study was divided to provide study for youth and teens; the church held its first Easter Sunday Sunrise Service; Friday night fellowship services were established; the First Veteran's Day Service was observed; also, the First Community Christmas Caroling and the First Church-wide Christmas Fellowship were held. In his efforts to unite believers, Rev. Smith brought area A.M.E. churches together for a series of Lenten services. Also, under Pastor Smith, the church's theme became "Striving for Unity of the Spirit." With Unity as our focus and winning souls for Christ as our commission, First A.M.E. Church is Continuing the Miracle in Gaithersburg. In Spring 2002, the Rev. Dr. Barbara Y. Glenn was appointed to be our new pastor. She is assisted by her husband, the Rev. Marvin T. Glenn, Jr. Her first sermon was entitled "Ready..Set.. Go." Together, they bring a fresh, invigorating anointing that keeps the Miracle in Gaithersburg alive, with an emphasis on fervent and focused worship as well as Christian education, as we move toward the construction of a new miracle edifice. Attendance continues to grow steadily, such that the addition of a Sunday worship service at 8 a.m. was needed. Children’s church was initiated for children grades 1-6 to allow them to experience worship and Christian learning tailored to their needs during church services. In addition, a spirit-filled youth ministry is thriving under the leadership of youth minister Rev. Ayana Newton. A bimonthly youth newsletter, Word With You, which is written predominantly by the young people, gives them a distinctive voice in the church. The Men's Ministry has enabled men to gather, study the Word, express themselves openly while encouraging a greater male presence and participation in the church. The church newsletter has been reestablished under the title Kingdom News, and this Web site became a reality under Pastor Glenn’s dynamic leadership. Our Vision Expansion Project, which seeks to provide hope to all people as we gain more space to serve the community, is in full swing, with the completion of Phase I--the payoff of the land adjacent to the church--on January 17, 2004. Phase II, the design phase, officially began with a Contract Signing Service on November 9, 2005. On April 20, 2006, First A.M.E. Church of Gaithersburg expanded its territory with the purchase of the house and land parcel at 17634 and 17636 Washington Grove Lane. Named Unity House by Pastor Glenn, this property will allow us to expand our ministries, even as we move toward building the new edifice. We are confident that this is only the beginning of something greater to come in the life of First A.M.E. Church of Gaithersburg. For "..he who has begun a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6) |
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