St. Luke AME Church - St. Croix

Croix🇻🇮105 years of service
#28 Estate Grove Place.

🇻🇮 📍 On March 20, 1920, the church was established under similar circumstances as the first A.M.E. Mother Bethel was established because the whites of the Methodist Church refused to allow blacks to pray with them at the altar. In the case of St. Luke A.M.E., the church was founded

when the pastor, Rev. Reginald Grant Barro,w who stood up for the rights of poor workers, was barred from preaching. This occurred in 1918 when Rev. Barrow was sent to Holy Cross Episcopal Church to minister to the spiritual needs of the people and began working to change them. As a result, the planters had to pay higher wages. Barrow also helped David Hamilton Jackson with his newspaper in which people could express themselves. When Rev. Barrow took his case to the people, 800 faithful members immediately marched out of Holy Cross with the pastor to a tamarind tree at Grove Place where they worshipped God. The Labor Union permitted them to worship in the Great House, whose ruins can still be seen adjacent to the Grove Place fire station. David Hamilton Jackson advised Rev. Barrow that he could seek affiliation with African Methodist three acres of land to build a church and a school. They called the church St. Luke. Reginald Grant Barrow was appointed the first pastor. After his departure, Rev. Christian Chase from Guyana was appointed pastor. He was followed by Rev. Arthur Roberson, who died while serving as pastor. After Rev. Roberson’s death, his wife, Mrs. Anna Roberson preached on Sundays and continued the church's work. From its establishment, St. Luke’s financial situation was serious. By 1940, the property had been put up for sale for unpaid debt. David S. Williams, who succeeded Rev. Roberson worked to save the property. Utilizing his funds, along with help from a concerned friend, Anthony Leader, Rev. Williams managed to keep the property and complete the church building. In 1956, Rev. Vincent H. Gordon, a native son, was assigned to St. Luke, where he served for 22 years. Gordon had the distinction of being the first and only native Virgin Islander to pastor St. In 1978, Pastor Gordon was transferred to Bethel, and Rev. Peter J.N. Stephens was sent to St. Pastor Stephens served for four years. Building on the work of Rev. Gordon, Rev. Stephens carried out significant renovations to the church. In 1982, Rev. Louis A. Davis replaced Rev. Stephens as pastor of St. Under his leadership, an annex was added, and all existing debts were paid off. The ministry was also extended to include a youth and children’s choir. Davis died while still serving as pastor of St. Luke on October 27, 2010. In his 28 years of leadership at St. Luke, Rev. Davis will be remembered for his dynamic preaching and his vision of building an educational complex to meet the community's needs. Unique, also, was his nurturing of persons to join the ministerial ranks. During his tenure, Rev. Jocelyn Dowdye and Rev. Arner Boissere were ordained, ministers. They both served at St. Luke before being assigned to Grady A.M.E. Church. Davis’ death, the Steward Board ran the church until the appointment of Rev. Phillip Walcott. Phillip Walcott was assigned to St. Luke on April 10, 2011. His emphasis was on involving more people in the ministries of the church. He achieved this goal by establishing a church band, organizing the church into twelve classes with a leader for each class, establishing a Men’s and Women’s Day, and developing a Children’s Church. Under Rev. Walcott’s leadership, the church purchased a vehicle to be used by the pastor and a church van for the transportation ministry. Walcott used every opportunity to teach God’s word, whether in a board meeting, Sunday school, membership class, or just in friendly conversations. He encouraged members to grow in God’s word through reading the scriptures and attending seminars at the connectional, district, and local levels. Reverend Carlos Wesley Perkins was appointed pastor of St. Luke AME Church- St. Croix on May 28, 2015. Perkins worked to empower others through the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. God used him to powerfully minister to the needs of today’s generation by planning and implementing some cutting-edge ministry opportunities and activities. Since his appointment to St. Luke AME Church, Rev. Perkins has led the church in a Vision Campaign to raise funds to purchase a new parsonage; established a Men’s Ministry, Women’s Ministry, and Youth Ministry; enhanced the sanctuary with video projection, and led the efforts to revitalize the church property. Reverend Jermaine Mulley, the 2nd native son and the youngest in church history. He was appointed as pastor of St. Croix on September 28, 2018. Mulley encourages creative leadership in ministry to further bridge the gap between generations, ministry differences, and socioeconomic gaps through community and government collaboration that caters to the people's needs with active participation with innovation for change. Mulley increased social media reach with a 458% increase in one year. He also established an online giving community, encouraging members and partners to give at the click of a button. He has a passion for impacting more unsaved and unchurched in the nearby neighborhood with consistent programs and not limited to economic entrepreneurial sessions, educational symposiums with occupational skills and workforce development, and counseling sessions where the experts meet the people in their communities. Mulley's leadership, the Richard Allen Young Adults Council (RAYAC), with strong presence and Children's Sunday School, has been revitalized with three classes. Mulley has plans to strengthen the Couples Ministry, Lay Ministry, and establish a Singles, Family Life Counseling & Social Concerns Ministry.