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In the A.M.E. Zion Church, the office of the Deaconess is not decorative. It is not ceremonial. It is sacred labor wrapped in humility, discipline, and deep spiritual responsibility. The Deaconess does not stand in front of the pulpit to be seen, she stands beside it to protect what flows from it. Historically, Deaconesses in the A.M.E. Zion tradition were the backbone of worship, compassion, and order. They prepared the sanctuary, tended to the communion table, clothed the a

Genesis does not begin with race, hierarchy, or dominance. It begins with breath. “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” —Genesis 1:26 Before nations. Before names. Before power distorted purpose. There was image, shared, divine, intentional. Humanity does not enter Scripture fragmented. It enters whole. Genesis 2 reveals something intimate and deliberate. God does not form Eve from dust again. He forms her from living life. “And the Lord God caused

There are moments when time feels thin, when one year exhales and another quietly steps forward. That was the spirit in the room at Jonahville AME Zion Church as we stood on the final evening of 2025. No rush. Just presence. What a way to step into a new year at The Ville. The sanctuary carried the weight of everything we had walked through and everything we were finally ready to lay down. You could feel it, people coming in not to perform, not to impress, but to be honest be

By Minister Dearest Price Christmas didn’t begin with sparkle. It began with skin warmed by sun, history in the bones, and survival in the breath. A young girl carried a promise in her body before the world was ready to honor her. She knew how it felt to be watched, questioned, and misunderstood, to carry purpose quietly while mouths kept moving. This serves as an example of every load we carry will not be understood. “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unt

A Reflection on Social Media, Attention, and Stewardship Scripture reminds us, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful.” (1 Corinthians 6:12) We live in a time where connection is easier than ever. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow us to share messages, stay informed, and remain in touch across distance. These tools can be useful. However, as people of faith, we are also called to practice discernment, especially in how we steward

A Plan for God’s Children By Minister Dearest Price “You shall live and not die.” Those words are often spoken in moments of sickness, grief, or crisis but they also speak to something just as urgent: the right to live with dignity. Jesus said in John 10:10, “I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.” Abundant life was never meant to be symbolic or postponed until heaven. It was meant to be experienced here, in our homes, our work, our communities, and yes,

Wreath Laying Ceremony Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Cemetery Pastor Mark A.Evans Saturday’s Wreath Laying Ceremony was more than a local gathering, it was part of a sacred moment happening across the nation this year, as communities intentionally paused to honor service, memory, and legacy. In a time when history is often hurried past, this ceremony reminded us that remembrance is an act of responsibility. As the wreath was laid in honor of Private George Klutz, the air itse

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Fear is one of the most effective prisons ever built because the bars are invisible and the sentence feels self-imposed. I see it every day in my work with incarceration both behind literal bars and in the free world where people wake up every morning confined by anxiety, shame, scarcity, and the dread of what might happen next. Fear does not need a judge or a sentence. It only needs agreement. Scripture is clear about fear’s intent. “For God h

Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed America is drifting into a darkness that feels painfully familiar. The kind of familiar that echoes the 1960s, when hatred was spoken freely and laws were weaponized against people who simply wanted to live. Today we are watching an American president use racial slurs against Somalis, Haitians, and immigrants from African nations and the country absorbs it like background noise. ICE raids in Minnesota intensify, communities live in fear, and someh

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed There are seasons when our prayers grow quiet. Not because we don’t believe, not because we’ve turned from God, but because life has pressed us so deeply that the most honest word we can whisper is simply, “Help.” People don’t always talk about those seasons. The times when the tears fall faster than the sentences. The times when your heart is so full of confusion that forming a complete prayer feels impossible. The times when you want to speak

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Tonight, as the temperature drops, the wind cuts sharper than knives. People hurry from car to doorway, doorway to home, tucking their bodies deeper into coats and hoods to escape the bite of winter. But for thousands of our brothers and sisters right here in Charlotte and millions across this nation, there is no doorway. No heat. No shelter. No escape. Every corner in this city holds a story. A tent. A blanket. A body huddled under a bridge. A

How We Bring Back the Joy of the Holy-Days By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed Christmas is called a season of joy, yet for many of God’s children… it is the hardest time of the year. As lights go up on houses and carols fill the air, a quiet ache sits inside the hearts of countless believers. And beloved, that ache is real. It is holy. It deserves to be spoken. The Bible never told us to pretend. It told us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. So today, we bring our

By Minister Dearest Happy Honor Day Some woke up today and said, “I can’t do Thanksgiving this year” and God understands. We all grieve, and that grief deserves to be honored. Every tear, every ache, every silent moment of missing someone is evidence that love lived here. We all feel, and honoring one another’s feelings is a sacred act. Compassion is not weakness; it is the bridge that holds us together. We all breathe, and every breath is another day to honor the simple gift

By Dearest Price | Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church “Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me.” — Matthew 4:8-9 (KJV) Can you imagine if Jesus had caved? Picture it, our Savior standing on the mountaintop, looking down at the world He came to save. The tempter whispers promises of power, wealth,

By Dearest Price America is breaking before our eyes. Not just politically, not just economically, but spiritually. The SNAP benefits that once fed the hungry are suspended, healthcare will soon climb to astronomical levels, ICE has stripped due process from human beings, and our National Guard patrols the streets like soldiers at war with their own people. Books are banned, women’s rights erased, and Black women, those who have carried the moral backbone of this nation are b

As 2025 draws to a close, the Spirit is calling Jonahville back to the altar, back to prayer, back to fellowship, and back to purpose. This is not just a season; it’s a divine invitation. For those returning to Jonahville, those finding their way home, and those standing in the gap for their families this is your moment. A Church Built on Faith Jonahville has always been more than walls and pews. It is a place of healing, a lighthouse on the hill, and a refuge for weary souls

Scripture Lesson: Matthew 14:22–30 Title: Power of Prayer Preacher: Pastor Mark A. Evans Jonahville AME Zion Church Pastor Evans preached with fire and conviction from Matthew 14:22–30, reminding the congregation that prayer is not just a moment, it’s power. In this familiar passage, Jesus walks on the water, and Peter, filled with faith, steps out of the boat to meet Him. But when Peter looks at the winds and waves, fear takes hold, and he begins to sink. Pastor Evans remind

Rev. Dr. Anthony Freeman Pastor Mark A. Evans, Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Pastor Mark A. Evans Last Sunday, the Spirit filled Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church as Rev. Dr. Anthony Freeman preached a sermon that pierced the soul — “I Escaped Again: Running for My Life.” Drawing from 2 Corinthians 11:22–33, he reminded us that this life is a battleground, not a playground. “We are about to die,” he declared. “So you’d better know what has happened to your soul if you haven’t rep

Sills Creek A.M.E. Zion Church, Rev. Merriweather Guest Preacher: Pastor Mark A. Evans, Jonahville A.M.E. Zion Church Scripture...

There are moments in our world that make heaven weep. News of children zip-tied in an ICE raid inside their own home is one of them. The...