Thomas Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church
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A Historic Church in Watertown, New York
Thomas Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion has played an active role in the growth and development in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York, community since 1878. In February 1880, the congregation incorporated with David A.Williams, Joseph H.Rickman, and Henry H.Barr as trustees. Thomas Memorial was built on its current site in 1909. This church is the oldest surviving building associated with Watertown, New York.
The church was originally built to support the spiritual and social needs of the African American railroad workers that settled in the Morrison Street area. "Zion was a foremost anti-slavery church, encouraging their lectures and preachers to hold forth in the various respective meeting houses." The AMEZ Church was known from the beginning as an anti-slavery church, in part because of its strong itineration of preachers for abolition. Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Katherine Harris,Jermaine Loguen, Frederick Douglass are some of its well-known members.Historian Bishop William J.Walls extolled the strong, influential women in this tradition."A sort of pertinacity was bred into these women who stood by the side of the men, fought the battles of freedom, and expanded the church across the continent and across the seas," he wrote.
Thomas Memorial membership : A Model of Servant-Leadership in Action.
Jesus is looking for followers: To lead others,One must serve others.
Thomas Memorial membership;Clearly the attitude of a servant:placing others'needs before one's own,committing oneself to doing concrete things to meet those needs,and looking for neither favors nor reciprocity from the people one serves.
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THE HALLMARK OF LOVE
A key test of our commitment to Christ is our love for other believers(John 13:31-35).It is not just our words that express our love, but our attitudes and actions as well. Jesus did not say that others would know we are His disciples by what we say, or how we dress, or what we know, or the label of our denomination.Jesus said," as I have loved you"(John 13:34).
