07/18/2015
The History of Young Adult Fellowship & The Voices of Praise Choir
In the fall of 2000, Pastor Davis called a meeting with both Kirk Wilcox and Wilbur “Geno” Jordan to discuss the probability of a new ministry at Bethel AME Church. Wilcox and Jordan expressed to Pastor Davis their concerns and what they thought would bring young adults, particularly college students, to Bethel. Therefore, Pastor Davis gave them both an assignment to help formulate details for a ministry that would serve that purpose.
After several months of meeting, re-writing, re-evaluating, re-accessing, and reorganizing, Pastor Davis accepted the proposal for Collegiate Methodist Fellowship! Collegiate Methodist Fellowship would encompass: Collegiate Choir, 8am Contemporary Service, Empowerment Sessions, and Spiritual Advancement i.e. Friday Night Bash. The inaugural service was held April 8, 2001 at 8am. The Renowned Albany State Gospel Choir, under the direction of Brother Travis Gilyard. The guest speaker for the service was Minister Brian Jones. The atmosphere was set and God began to move.
Shortly after that initial service, The Voices of Praise Choir was formed. The original members of V.O.P were:
Paula Williams, Mildred Williams, Kirk Wilcox, Wilbur Jordan, Malcom Jackson, Travis Gilyard, Mary Wright, Otis Lamont Sorrell, and Gloria Blaylock as musician. From the formation of these dynamic and devoted singers, the Voices of Praise Choir would ultimately become the catalysis for a new movement of radical worship lead by Rev Davis and his young adults.
Under Collegiate Methodist Fellowship, Friday Night Bash become a popular monthly Friday night social with many special guest, such as Rev. Kwame Alston of Miami Florida, Shameka Riche of Riche Lake Records, Plainsfield NJ, host of Dr. & Professors from Albany State University and to foster a relationship with the business community of Albany. The Choir began to grow and more young adults joined. Mrs. Mary Wright or “Mother Wright” as she is affectingly known, became the advisor and spiritual mother to the choir. Mrs. Wright poured loved, knowledge, wisdom, and personal finances into the ministry to ensure that the young people had what was needed to be an effective ministry.
Rev. Davis took The Voices of Praise throughout the south conference and the state of Georgia to minister with him. The two most profound moments in our choir history was in 2006 when the choir sung at Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta Georgia before hundreds of people, and when the choir purchased robes that were presented at the choir anniversary in 2006. God has truly blessed this anointed body of singers with great musical directors such as Gloria Blaylock, Nicholas Hillary, Vincent Sneed and Kenosha Gardner.
In 2006, Collegiate Methodist Fellowship would graduate to Young Adult Fellowship to continue with its legacy and grow larger to encompass yet a larger body of young adults in the church. Because of the vision and ingenuity of Pastor Davis, Kirk Wilcox, and Geno Jordan, the ministry was birthed and it flourished. The torch was released to Shavone White in 2007 after President Wilcox relocated to Atlanta. Sister White served with valor and later passed on the torch to Brother Ernest Jones in 2009 and Brother Jones has continued a long legacy of dedication and commitment to the ministry and God.
We are so excited about our 10 years of ministry here at Bethel. Most of all we thank the members, present and past who have supported this ministry from its humble beginnings.
