Bethel AME Church in Des Moines celebrates 115th anniversary with generational reunion

By Kayla James

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DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — A church that calls itself the oldest historic black church on the east side of Des Moines is celebrating a big anniversary.

Bethel African Methodist Espiscopal Church, led by Pastor Josephine Wolder, is celebrating its 115th anniversary. This past weekend, special events marked the milestone. Saturday featured a Praise Team Dance Celebration with teams from a dozen historic black churches in Des Moines. Sunday featured a worship service with a special reunion choir featuring current and former Bethel AME members.

The church has a special bond that members are proud of. It is a bond that spans generations.

“My grandmother was in the third pew. Her best friend was in the fourth pew,” recalled Cheryl Hayes, a member of Bethel AME Church. “We could almost go down a row and tell you who sat where.”

Many of the current members of the church are part of families who have known each other for decades. It has created a strong bond that is stronger than just church members; they are a family.

“We are part of something that is much older,” said Daron Richardson, a member of the church. “We are part of something that is much, much bigger than the size of the church.”

In the 115 years of its existence, the church has experienced a lot.

“There was someone who broke into the church. He was trying to get into the soda machine and I think he was mad because he couldn’t get any money out of the machine,” said Hayes, who recalled what happened in the ’80s. “So he set the church on fire and that was about $80,000 worth of damage.”

The flood of 1993 also hit the church hard, severely damaging the cellar.

Rather than viewing these moments as permanent dark moments, the church used them to shape the theme of the jubilee celebration.

“We’ve been through the fire. We’ve been through the flood,” Hayes said. “So that’s our theme, because we’re still here and we’re still praising.”

Richardson calls the church an “unbroken chain of friendship and fellowship,” something we have seen throughout the history of the church.

His mother, Reverend Monica Stovall, also has no choice but to agree.

“God says in the Word, ‘How will they know you love me? By the way you love one another,’” Stovall paraphrased.

Members of Bethel AME Church say they know their church is not perfect.

However, they are proud of the love they feel for each other and for everyone who comes through the church.

“What draws people to Bethel? I guess I would have to say God sends them here because He knows they can find what they need here,” Stovall said.

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