THE MIRACLE ON 73RD AVENUE

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF

BROOKINS AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Brookins AMEC is the result of a push for the expansion of African Methodism to the Eastern sector of Oakland which began in the late Nineteen Fifties and the early Nineteen Sixties.  This effort took its origin with the establishment of an outreach Sunday School Program in the Home of Mr. Arthur Hall (A steward of Parks Chapel) Mr. Alfred O. Parham, Sr. (A trustee of Parks Chapel) served as superintendent of this outreach Sunday school.  This mode group/concept served as a catalyst to attract the attention of the church leadership in the California Conference of the AMEC, who then began to give serious consideration to the East Oakland Committee as a wise and suitable area for expansion of African Methodism in the California Conference.

On Sunday, December 29,1968, 30 laypersons, most of whom were members of Parks Chapel AMEC, met for the first time to develop plans for the establishment of a Mission in the Eastern Sector of the City of Oakland, California.  The first worship service of the Lay Mission was held on Sunday, January 5, 1969, at The East Oakland Chapel of Jackson Funeral Home with the late Elder Alexander White, Sr., Presiding.  On February 24, 1969, the Mission Membership selected the name of Everett Chapel AMEC and the subsequent official board appointed Elder Alexander White, Sr. as its spiritual leader.

During the mid to latter Nineteen Sixties, there was also another African Methodist expansion group in development in the East Oakland community.  A Group of laypersons similar to the Everett group organized and selected the name Bryant Chapel AMEC and was admitted to the California Annual Conference at its 1969 annual session.

Brothers Arthur Hall, Jerry Timmons, Eugene Calhoun, and Toussaint Redcross, Sr., were laypersons among other along with the Reverend H. G. Devereaux, who gave further evidence that the East Oakland sector was capable of supporting the expansion of African Methodism.

 

The 1976 session of the General Conference of the AMEC and the subsequent appointment of the Rt. Rev. H. Hartford Brookins would have a profound effect on the work and progress of the East Oakland AMEC and the growth and development of African Methodism already begun there.  Bishop Brookins moved to complement the efforts and work already under way.  As  a part of the Master plan to effect a body of lay persons capable of building a substantial physical structure and lending itself to the process of building a major congregation in the AMEC tradition, Bishop Brookins considered Williams Chapel AMEC in addition to Everett and Bryant Chapel as a joint tool in this project of expansion.

Bishop Brookins working with the congregation of Williams Chapel and such members as Henry Hemphill, Julius Adams, and Gladys Lindsey, among others; considered a plan to merge the three congregations and locate a suitable church structure in East Oakland.

In October, 1977, Bishop Brookins met with each of the church memberships and discussed their possible merger.  In November of the same year, Bishop Brookins met with Presiding Elder R. A. Washington and the members of the conference Board of Trustees for the purpose of establishing a fact finding committee for the proposed venture of locating a church in East Oakland to serve the three congregations.

The fact finding committee consisted of Henry Hemphill, Gladys, Lindsey, and Julius Adams of Williams Chapel; Alfred O. Parham., Sr., B. Hudson and Sorella Brooks of Everett Chapel; Arthur Hall, Bernice Middleton, and Toussaint B. Redcross, Sr., of Bryant Chapel.  The committee made its first report on July 15, 1978 and thus the formal process began to gain approval from the three bodies.

Williams Chapel and Bryant Chapel, subsequently approved the merger proposal with Everett Chapel voting not to join the concept, however, a large portion of the congregation transferred their membership over to the new expansion project.  Together, two full congregations and a substantial representation of the third made the East Oakland AMEC Concept a reality.

At the August, 1978 annual conference, Bishop Brookins, Presiding Elder R. A. Washington, the Fact Finding Committee, Conference Trustees, Pastor of the conference, and laypersons alike gathered at 2201 73rd Avenue (the selected site for construction) and participated in a ground breaking ceremony.  On that same afternoon, at St. Paul AMEC in Berkeley, California, Bishop Brookins consummated the two groups into one body.

In October, 1978, Rev. G. Mansfield Collins was assigned to pastor the East Oakland AMEC Concept.  Later in that same year, the name was changed to Brookins AMEC, in honor of the person whose wisdom had brought the two groups into the merger.  The Williams and Bryant Chapel properties were sold in early 1979 and the congregation moved to Concordia High School.  Where it worshiped weekly until December 9, 1984.

In August, 1980, Reverend Norman D. Copeland was assigned to pastor Brookins.  Under his administration, the church was reorganized and a great deal of work was done in preparation for construction of a new church at the 73rd Avenue site.  It was during this administration that the Young People=s Division was greatly increased and strengthened.

In August, 1982 Reverend Edgar E. Boyd, was assigned to the pastorate of Brookins.  During his administration, the congregation of Brookins further consummated the merger, many new members joined the fellowship, and the Lord manifested His power before the congregation in the erection of a beautiful and modern church building at 2201 73rd Avenue.

The opening day services for Brookins was held on Sunday, December 9, 1984 at 3:00 P.M. (The dedication and laying of the corner stone for the building was held on Saturday, June 3, 1984, with Bishop H. H. Brookins presiding).

In that the building has already been dedicated, Bishop H. W. Murph, The newly assigned Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District, led in the ribbon cutting, Grand Opening Celebration.  Presiding Elder R. A. Washington, Pastors and laypersons from across the conference and district were in attendance.  The overflow crowd was estimated at 1,100 persons.

On September 28, 1986 the late Reverend Russell Thomas Hill, Jr., was assigned to pastor Brookins.  Rev. Hill took pride in his responsibility for church growth and spiritual outreach.  Under his administration the church increased its membership from 200 to 600.  The Sunday School grew by approximately 80%, Brookins became a tithing church no longer depending on fund raisers.  The mortgage was reduced from 6 digits to 5.

Rev. Hill was best known for his demonstration of musical talent as an arranger, composer, musician and director and did not cease to use these skills to enhance the youth department.

ALIVE AT HALF PAST 5, a radio broadcast was put into effect under his administration and this broadcast served as an outreach program for the East Bay Community.

Under his leadership Brookins became known as the FRIENDLIEST AND FASTEST GROWING CHURCH in the California conference.

Rev. Hill was chosen to lend himself to an area of helpfulness through his commitment to God, which was shown by his OPEN DOOR POLICY for all God=s children to come and worship together.

On October 15, 1989 Rev. Andrew Lee Simpson, Jr. was assigned to Brookins.  During his administration he worked to bring the black family to a sense of unity with his theme of AOPERATION HOMECOMING - BACK TO FAMILY, BACK TO CHURCH, BACK TO GOD. 

Under his leadership a wrought iron fence was erected to further enhance the beauty of the church. A new piano was purchased and the establishment of a planned maintenance schedule was put into effect to give the members a sense of pride in their church.

During the course of door to door witnessing some members saw a vision to establish a feed the hungry breakfast program in October, 1992.  Rev. Simpson along with the evangelism team saw this as an outreach program that would strongly benefit the East Oakland community.

Among the many activities held during the year was Brookins first unity banquet.  Rev. Simpson's prayer was that God would give him the strength and wisdom to meet every challenge that came before him here at Brookins.

In October, 1993 Rev. Allen L. Williams, Sr. was assigned to Brookins he has stated that Where there is no Vision, the people perish!  Rev. Williams has taken that scripture to heart.  Because his vision for Brookins is a wholistic ministry.  He believes in total salvation for the total person.  A Bible in one hand and world and community events in the other hand.  Striving to empower people spiritually, economically, and politically.  He believes that everyone is important and can make a contribution and is Asomebody.

Under Rev. Williams administration many new ministries were started or revived.  The Brookins Housing and Economic Development Corporation was developed to enhance low cost high quality housing to community residents.  The ministry of music was enchanced with the addition of a youth choir, children's choir, men's chorus and the growth of the Brookins Mass Choir.  Youth Bible Study, Singles and Young Adult Ministry were also added.

Rev. Williams has put a special emphasis on tithing and stewardship as the church  is close to retiring all of the churches outstanding mortgages.  Also, a new roof, and top of the line 14 passenger van and parking lot lighting have been added due to the churches effective stewardship.

In October , 1998 Rev. Dorsey Wimbly McCullough was assigned to Brookins “Searching for the lost and seeking for the overlooked” was the theme that Rev. McCullough had instituted that we should be a church spreading the gospel message wherever we go.

Under Rev. McCullough’s administration the junior stewards and junior stewardess boards was implemented, and we began family night each and every Wednesday evening beginning with prayer, praise and song.

In October, 2000 Rev. Carmi Victor Woods was assigned to Brookins, so far under his administration we burned our mortgage on the church during the District Conference, April 5, 2001.  Rev. Woods has been very instrumental in community awareness, where he has developed a very close relationship with The Oakland Community Organization (OCO).