Our Church HistoryBrookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded April 24, 1977 under the leadership of Bishop H. Hartford Brookins who recognized a need for an additional church in the immediate area to meet the needs of the residents of South Los Angeles. Bishop Brookins organized the purchase of the building at 4831 Gramercy Place and “borrowed” nine members from First A.M.E. Church to get the congregation started.  Brookins Community A.M.E. Church started as a pilot program to be undergirded by the Southern California Conference for a period of two years. Bishop Brookins served as Pastor with the assistance of Presiding Elders A.K. Quinn and A.A. Morgan. Under his leadership, the church grew to 41 members in two months. The Rev. Dr. T. Larry Kirkland, Sr. was appointed the first Pastor by Bishop Brookins and began his service on June 1, 1977. Prior to his appointment, the Rev. Dr. Kirkland was Pastor of Turner A.M.E. Church in Greenwood, Mississippi. In his new assignment, he began the awesome task of growing the congregation and was also responsible for building a kitchen in the lower level, installing a choir loft, constructing the Pastor’s office and study, purchasing a baby grand piano, and developing a recording studio. Among the early organizations he established were the Sunday School, Women’s Missionary Society, Young People’s Department, Lay Organization, Music Ministry, Tape Ministry, and other auxiliaries. During his 19-year tenure, Rev. Dr. Kirkland started other organizations to meet the needs of people including New Members Institute, Welcome Club, Couples Club, and several outreach ministries. The main sanctuary was destroyed by fire in 1991 and Pastor Kirkland oversaw million dollar renovation and seismic retrofitting project to restore and improve the building. In addition, the church purchased several surrounding properties including the Brookins Community Development Center on 48th Street and Gramercy Place. In June 1996, the Rev. Dr. Kirkland was elected as the 114th bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in June 1996. Currently, he serves as the Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District encompassing the state of Alabama. The Rev. Dr. Frederick O. Murph was appointed as the second pastor of Brookins in October 1996 by Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, presiding prelate of the Fifth Episcopal District. Previously, Dr. Murph served 10 years as pastor of First A.M.E. Church in Oakland, CA. Under his leadership, the church continues to grow spiritually and numerically to more than 5,500 members including 1,900 converts to the Christian faith. Also, the church added a Thursday Night Bible Study to complement the Pastor’s Tuesday Night Bible Study and Wednesday Mid-Day Bible Study, and a Sunday School class for young Black males ages 10 to 13. Also, Brookins has several organizations ranging from the traditional to non-traditional. His other accomplishments include leading the congregation in purchasing a new parsonage, renovating the main church building, installing a state-of-the-art sound system in the main sanctuary, rehabilitating three church-owned properties, and renting two church-owned homes. In 1999, Dr. Murph founded Brookins Community Development Corporation (BCDC) which operates the Vernon R. Byrd Child Development Center offering day and evening child care for working parents. In 2006, the BCDC opened the Mesereau-Ephraim-Villaraigosa Legal Clinic, named after Attorney Tom Mesereau, Judge Mablean Ephraim and L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. The clinic provides free legal services to South Los Angeles residents. Brookins has come far since its founding and by the grace of God, we will continue to go forward in faith under the anointing of Almighty God. |
Brookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Church 4831 South Grammercy Place Los Angeles, CA 90062 Phone: 323.296.5610 Fax:323.296.1472 bcamechurch@aol.com |
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Brookins Community African Methodist Episcopal Church 2007: Sitemap |
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