THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1787 by Richard Allen who, in 1816, was elected its first Bishop. The Church's name, AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL, indicates that the Church was founded by people of African descent. The Motto, "God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother," clearly indicates that membership is not limited to people of African heritage. "METHODIST" means that the Church is of the Methodist denomination; "EPISCOPAL" denotes the form of government, the highest office being that of a Bishop. For more information, please see
http://www.ame-church.com/about-us/
WAYMAN A.M.E. CHURCH - OUR BEGINNING
One hundred and seventeen years after the founding of the African Methodist Episcopal church, Wayman A.M.E. Church began its existence as a mission. The Rev. B.W. Steward organized this mission in a Masonic Temple in 1903 along with several other such lay persons as Lula Kelley and Antoinette Claiborne. The mission was called "Wayman" after Bishop A.W. Wayman (the seventh Bishop of the A.M.E. Church, elected in 1864). In 1907, Wayman Mission and Allen Mission were merged, and the name became Wayman-Allen Mission which remained until 1914 when the church was incorporated in the same year under the State Laws of Missouri of "not for profit organizations" in the name of Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church.
WHERE WE HAVE WORSHIPED
From South Tenth Street, the mission was relocated on Poplar Street near Jefferson Avenue, and from there to Fourteenth and Morgan Streets. In 1914, at the Missouri Annual Conference at Cape Girardeau, Bishop H.B. Parks requested a committee be appointed to find a permanent location for the mission. The Committee located a suitable site at 23rd and Wash Streets, and after deliberation ultimately purchased the old German Lutheran Church that had been erected on the lot.
Sometime during the periods of 1926-34, the church was remodeled under the pastorate of C.A. Williams. The church has unofficially (yet affectionately) been referred to as "Wayman Temple" for many years, because gleaming white Grecian pillars were erected at the front of the original edifice.
From 1903 to 1951, the following preachers served as Ministers of Wayman: B.W. Steward, J. Edmonson, J.W. Florence, S.L. Brooks, A.R. Dobbins, J.H. Grant, C.A. Williams, J.D. Barksdale, S.R. Stanley, R.L. Phillips, J.C. Hicks, R.C. Houston, S.H. Lewis, W.D. Wilkins, and L.R. Hayes.
In 1951, Rev. Samuel Monroe Pointer was appointed pastor of Wayman. It was during this time, the inflexible white population of the city yielded to the West and Southward movement. The African-American population followed filling the vacuum, and conversely the parishioners of Wayman moved nearer to Kingshighway. Under the leadership of Rev. Pointer, Wayman purchased the Kingshighway Presbyterian Church. Located at Kingshighway and Cabanne Avenue, and in September of 1953; moved from 23rd and Cole Street to the new, magnificent edifice. The new complex included a parsonage, educational building, recreational facility and fellowship hall. Rev. Pointer served as the Pastor of Wayman from 1951-1974.
BUILDING ON A STRONG FOUNDATION
In 1974, Rev. Lonnie C. Wormley, Sr., assumed the pastorate of Wayman. A dynamic, people-oriented preacher, Rev. Wormley was instrumental in paying off the outstanding mortgage of the building. Other accomplishments included the purchase of a parking lot, a "Feed the Hungry/Clothe the Naked Outreach Program" and other ministries that continued outreach to the poor, homeless and downtrodden.
In 1990, Rev. Ezekiel Habersham was assigned to Wayman. From 1990-1993, accomplishments included the purchase of a parsonage, the establishment of a mentoring program, and involvement of a interdenominational faith-based community action group.
Rev. L. Fisher Hines served as pastor of Wayman from 1993 to 2001. Under his leadership, the debt was retired from the church's renovation, a radio ministry was launched, financial assistance to students from Wayman and the greater community through the Bessie M. Pointer Scholarship Council was started, and the Lena Mason Missionary Society continued the food pantry.
The tradition of capable ministers continues under the dynamic, energized, powerful and spirit-filled preaching and leadership of Rev. Dr. Timothy E. Tyler. In October of 2001, Dr. Tyler was appointed to Wayman and served until November 2008. During his tenure, he added many new ministries and helped us become a leader in the 2008 General Conference. In November 2008, Rev. Dr. Lewis Logan was appointed as the pastor of Wayman.
CURRENT LEADERSHIP
Our current pastor is Rev. Taurus L. Myhand. He is a native of Brundidge, Alabama. He completed his Bachelors of Science of Political Science degree at Troy University in Troy, Alabama and a Bachelor of Science of Liberal Studies degree at the University of Alabama at Huntsville in Huntsville, Alabama. He also received extensive training in Elementary K-6 Collaborative Education. He is a graduate of The Interdenominational Theological Center and Turner Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia with a Master of Divinity degree (M.Div.) concentrating in Missiology, Evangelism, and Ecumenics . In April 2009, he published a book entitled, Do This in Remembrance of Me: Christ’s Commission to Engage in an Incarnational Ministry of Mission that reaches to the Margins of Society. After traveling to Brazil, he helped to develop a model for ministry for those affected and infected with HIV/AIDS. He has worked as a special education teacher and a varsity football coach for a state championship team. He answered his call to the ministry at the age of fourteen in the South Alabama Annual Conference. He now serves his sixth pastoral charge as the pastor of the Wayman Nation supported by his wife (Denise) and his children (Britney , Blair, Camille and Baby Alex). Click here to read Pastor Myhand's bio.
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