Youth, eight years and older participate in the Sunday morning worship service by marching first into the sanctuary before service begins and light the candles. They also assist with offertory and extinguish the candles and march out first at the end of service.

 

The Communications, Arts and Culture Ministry is one of the newest at Saint Paul.  The purpose of the ministry is that of increasing publicity, public relations and public goodwill for Saint Paul A.M.E. Church through spiritual, and humanitarian expressions.  By using these mediums of expressions, the ministry aims to make Saint Paul more attractive by imparting information (Communication); increasing exposure and appreciation for artistic expression [(as in writing, music, etc.) Art]; and otherwise increasing  the association and interest within the church's neighborhood, the Smithfield community, the City of Birmingham, and beyond (Culture).

 

The crossroads ministry consists of young men and women who desire to provide community service and perform other benevolent acts.  This ministry  strives to support the church financially beyond the personal giving of its members through self initiated and directed fund raising projects.  The ministry involves itself in feeding the hungry on a quarterly basis and  in conjunction with other charitable organizations.  It  provides Christmas for a selected needy family and supports a family at Christmas in connection with another charitable organization.  The crossroads ministry has conducted fund raisers for church purposes.  The most recent project (Pathway to Glory) involves purchasing engraved bricks for a walk in connection with the construction of the new church facility.  In addition to its charitable works, the crossroads ministry plans group fellowship occasions, such as bowling,  barbecues, etc. with its members. 

 

Mission - The Health and Wellness Ministry of Saint Paul A.M.E. Church seeks to promote health and wellness as a lifestyle.

Goal - To address those core issues that African-Americans particularly must get control of if we are to make wellness our lifestyle. It is the goal of this ministry through information, demonstration, and participation to promote health and wellness in this church and community.

 

Persons in the media ministry are responsible for the various audio/visual equipment in the church.   This includes monitoring sound and video output during church services and other activities and making adjustments to equipment as required.

 

The newsletter ministry publishes a newsletter each month that is issued to every church member.  It is also mailed to members who are unable to attend church because of illness or other reasons.  The newsletter strives to keep members abreast of events occurring in the church and to impart spiritual and secular information that contributes to the knowledge of church members and their individual growth.

The newsletter is issued on the first Sunday of each month.  Persons having information for the newsletter should have it available at least one week prior to the issue date. Contact the newsletter editor, Belita Webb, or the church office  Volunteers who wish to serve on the newsletter staff are always welcome  and should contact the church office.

 

Sister's Serving Sister's is a women's fellowship and outreach program for the women of Saint Paul A.M.E. church Its purpose is to foster a closer relationship among Christian women. By strengthening the personal relationship with each other and Him, groups can be brought together that would have otherwise remained separate.

This ministry hosts a yearly Women's Advance, a weekend of learning and sharing; monthly chat and Chew book discussions and intercessory prayer. Sisters to Sisters is striving in 2001 to hold many other activities such as a Women's Health Forum, community School supply drive and a clothing drive to benefit PATH and Bread and Roses. The theme of Sisters to Sisters is " A ministry whose vision is to prepare those certain women of God for times such as these."

 

The Golden Girls Ministry is one of the newest ministries of Saint Paul. Its mission: To do the work of Christ in the immediate and surrounding communities. This ministry seeks to put faith in action by not only providing sustenance for the soul, but to supply food for the destitute in our community. In doing this, members of the ministry prove the reality of their faith before fellow men and women, showing them that God is love.

Ministry motto: We believe that Jesus Christ is speaking to you and me when he said, "What I have done you can do also, and even greater things." (John 14:12) We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Phillipians 4:13)

 

PSALM 150:4-6, "Praise Him with the timbrel and dance, praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.  Let everything that hath breath praise ye the Lord". 

 
The St. Paul liturgical praise dance troupe was organized in the summer of 1998.  This dance troupe's organization was to promote expression of Christianity through the art of dance.  The dance troupe has grown by leaps and bounds.  It consists of young ladies between the ages of five and sixteen.  They perform at church services every fourth Sunday (Youth Sunday) of the month. The dance troupe performs in the community and other church functions.  They have performed for the Fairfield Industrial Retirement Alumni, where they were presented awards for youth achievements.  The have also performed at the VACCA Campus Youth Center, and at other community programs.

We thank God for these young people, and ask God to continue to bless their gifts of praise through dance.

 

The Richard Allen Ministry for Schools (RAMS), a name used instead of the title "Christian Education Department", was initially organized with the main focus toward a college campus ministry.  The mission of the RAMS is to provide spiritual growth in the power of knowledge to the children of St. Paul and our surrounding community. 

This ministry endeavors to look at the needs of the whole child and with the guidance of our Lord and Savior, fell that each age group established will be able to focus in on the Word of God's love as they explore the world of God.  The ministry's goal is simply to instill in each child under the ministry's tutorage that God's love is an excellent reason to develop themselves for successful living that begins from the time we are conceived until their departure from this earth.

Areas of emphasis include: 

• College Campus
• Children's Worship
• Summer Tutoring
• Teens Acquiring Bible Skills (TABS)
• Sunday Church School
• Praise Dancers and Instrumentals

 

Saint Paul A.M.E. Church has a scout troop, scout pack and venturing scouts.  All are affiliated with the Greater Alabama Scout Council, which serves the central Alabama area. The scout troop is for boys 10-18 years old and they concentrate on outdoor activities such as camping.  They also involve themselves in service projects that are primarily church related.  Cub scouts are for boys 6-10 years of age and they primarily concentrate on games and craft activities.  Venturing scouts are for young men from 18-21 years of age.  These scouts perform community service projects.  St. Paul's venturing scouts have worked on Habitat for Humanity projects and plan to work with other charitable organizations.

 

The transportation ministry provides a means for church members without transportation to attend Sunday School, regular church services, church activities, and church activities and meetings away from the local church.  St. Paul has a twelve passenger van and a fifteen passenger van which are used for transportation.