Greater Bethel AMEC Athens

06/01/2026

Your Greater Days Are Still Ahead

These are the five signs that you're aging with power, purpose, and promise.

So if you can still pray like Simon, you're aging with power. If you can still climb mountains like Jacob, you're aging
with purpose.

If you can still learn like Apollos, you're aging with promise. If you can still think like Daniel, you're aging with wisdom. And if you can still love like Jesus, you're aging with Christ.

Saints, our hair may turn gray. Or in some of our cases, we don't have any hair at all. Your pace may slow down a little bit.

Your body may change. As much as you want to think you have a six pack, you don't have one no more

But if your prayer life is strong, if your purpose is alive, if your faith is growing, if your mind is engaged, if your love is expanding, then age is not going to defeat you.

Because you're aging with power, you're aging with purpose, and you're aging with promise.

Amen.

05/31/2026

Aging with Power, Purpose, and Promise

Growing older is not about what we lose but about how God continues to shape and use us for His glory. Through the Holy Spirit, we can still pray faithfully, move with purpose, grow in God’s Word, and remain mentally sharp.

The Holy Trinity reminds us that the Father loves us, the Son redeems us, and the Holy Spirit empowers us. Aging with God is not a season of decline but a season of promise. As Isaiah 40:31 declares, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.”

Join us tomorrow at Greater Bethel for Church School and breakfast at 9:30 a.m., followed by worship at 11:30 a.m. If you cannot attend in person, join our livestream on Facebook, YouTube, or at www.gbaathens.org.

Greater Bethel members, don’t forget to show your colors by wearing your black Greater Bethel polo shirt.

05/30/2026

Receiving and Walking in Power
Reading: Acts 1:4-8; Ephesians 3:14-21; Luke 24:44-49

Jesus commanded His disciples: "Do not leave Jerusalem until you receive power." God never intended His people to live powerless lives. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, providing power for identity, discernment, impact, and witness.

Yet many believers live far beneath their spiritual potential, settling for religious activity without supernatural empowerment.

Today is your personal Pentecost invitation. Stop striving in human strength. Wait on God. Hunger for more. The Holy Spirit wants to fill you afresh with power that transforms how you think, love, lead, and serve.

This power is not for personal glory but for kingdom advancement. Spend extended time in prayer today, asking God to baptize you anew with His Spirit.

Surrender every area of resistance. Open yourself completely to His empowering presence. Then rise and walk in the authority He has given you.

05/29/2026

Walking in Spiritual Discernment

At Pentecost, the Spirit granted supernatural understanding—people heard God's message in their own language.

Today, believers urgently need Pentecostal discernment.

We live in an age of sophisticated deception, where truth is manipulated and motives are concealed. The Holy Spirit offers wisdom beyond human learning, helping you see what others miss.

Ask God today for discernment in your relationships, decisions, and the way you consume information.
The Spirit reveals hidden agendas, protects you from schemes, and guides you toward truth.

You need not be a victim of manipulation or confusion. Jesus said, "Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves."

My prayer for you is that the Holy Spirit grant you eyes to see beyond appearances and the wisdom to navigate today's complexities with both compassion and intelligence.

05/28/2026

Discovering Your God-Given Identity

I am Marben Bland, Pastor Of The Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia, with a Living the Word Moment

Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-10; Ephesians 1:3-6

Before God can use you publicly, He must settle you privately. The Holy Spirit's first work is establishing your identity—not in your accomplishments, failures, or others' opinions, but in God's sovereign choice. You are chosen, royal, holy, and belonging to God. This is not arrogance; it is biblical confidence. When you know who you are in Christ, the enemy's accusations lose their power.

Today, reject every false narrative about your worth. You are not defined by past mistakes or present circumstances. You are defined by divine selection. Speak this truth aloud: "I am chosen by God, called for His purpose, and empowered by His Spirit." Let this identity transform how you walk through today's challenges.

05/27/2026

Seeing Clearly: Protecting Your Vision and Preventing Glaucoma

How often do we take our eyesight for granted? On this episode of It’s a Matter of Your Health, host Dr. Veita Bland welcomes renowned ophthalmologist Dr. Roy Whitaker Jr. for an eye-opening conversation about glaucoma, aging eyes, and protecting your vision for life.

Dr. Whitaker explains why glaucoma is called the “silent thief of sight,” the warning signs people should never ignore, and why African Americans face higher risks of blindness from the disease. The discussion also covers eye exams for children and adults, cataracts, dry eyes, diabetes, hypertension, nutrition, sunglasses, and the latest treatments helping preserve sight today.

This informative episode is a reminder that protecting your vision starts with prevention, awareness, and regular eye care.
Use this link to listen to the 28-minute show:

05/26/2026

Powered By The Holy Spirit: 4 Ways God Empowers You

Everybody wants power. Politicians spend millions chasing it. Corporations fight for it. But Pastor Marben Bland reminds us this Pentecost Sunday that there is a power money cannot buy—the power of the Holy Spirit! In this dynamic 27-minute sermon, Powered By The Holy Spirit: Four Ways God Empowers You, Pastor Bland of Greater Bethel AME explores how God empowers believers with identity, discernment, community impact, and bold witness, drawing on Acts 1–2 and 1 Peter 2:9. Discover why Christians are not called to be weak, silent, or powerless, but chosen, Spirit-filled agents of transformation in today’s world. This message speaks directly to the challenges of fear, deception, injustice, and the need for spiritual courage in 2026. Watch and listen today—and prepare to shout, “POWER!”
Use this link to listen to the 27-minute message
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1779779/episodes/19239132

05/25/2026

05/24/2026

Everybody wants power. Politicians spend millions chasing it. Corporations fight for it. Nations build systems around it. But on Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Marben Bland reminds us that there is a power money cannot buy—the power of the Holy Spirit!
In the sermon Powered By The Holy Spirit: 4 Ways God Empowers You, discover how God empowers believers with identity, discernment, community impact, and bold witness, as seen in Acts 1:8 and Acts 2. This message will challenge you to stop living in powerlessness and start walking in the authority God has given you.
If you need courage, clarity, strength, or spiritual direction in this season, this sermon is for you. Click the link, watch the message, and share it with someone who needs Holy Ghost power today!

05/23/2026

A New Chapter for the Maddox Center

The Maddox Center has been part of Athens history for generations, but after much prayer, study, and a unanimous church vote, Greater Bethel AME Church has made the difficult decision to demolish the building within the next 60 days. Time and deterioration have rendered the structure beyond practical restoration, and the property's uninsured condition poses serious risks to the church.

But this is not the end of the story—it is the beginning of a new vision. Pastor Marben Bland and Greater Bethel invite the Athens community to join upcoming listening sessions to help shape the future of this valuable property. As Matthew 16:18 reminds us, the church is not just a building—it is God’s people united in faith, hope, and purpose.

For more details and information about the listening session, please visit www.gbaathens.org.