'I see a lot of opportunities to do work for God'

'I see a lot of opportunities to do work for God'



By ANNE C. HEYMEN
anne.heymen@staugustine.com
Publication Date: 02/15/08


Community is the focus for the new pastor of St. Paul AME Church, 85 Martin Luther King Ave.

The Rev. Ron Rawls, a native of Gainesville and a graduate of the University of Florida whose dedication to the Gators "runs real deep in the veins," assumed his duties at the 240-member church in December. Commuting from Gainesville where his wife, Meshon is a professor at the University of Florida law school, Rawls says he "loves" the oldest city. "I see a lot of opportunities to do work for God, and I see a lot of great people."

His focus will be on "community working together," and Rawls has already met with Dr. Joseph Joyner, St. Johns County superintendent of schools and other pastors in the area. A goal, he says, is to "identify issues and make sure we have a bright future in place for our kids."

He is also looking for a home here with he and his wife and children dividing their time between St. Augustine and Gainesville.

His family includes son Ron III, 22, attending the University of Florida; Kiara, 17, a junior in high school in Gainesville; Jamahl, 11, a sixth grader; and Darius, 20, his wife's brother whom the pastor and his wife have raised. Darius is attending community college in Gainesville.

Rawls is also attending school. Earning a B.A. in religious from Florida, he is currently enrolled at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, pursuing a master of divinity degree. He comes to St. Paul from Hamilton County where he served a congregation of about 180 in Jasper.

Dates in late 1800s

St. Paul AME Church, in the Southern District and Eastern Conference, dates back to 1873.

According to the church's Web site, the Rev. Richard James "saw the need of leading a small flock into organizing and building the first St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church on Maria Sanchez Creek." Today, that is the site of the Willie Galimore Recreational Community Center.

The first house of worship was an 10x12 foot building, but the membership soon outgrew that facility, and James, "with cooperation and assistance of members, built an addition to the building. The congregation worshiped there until 1888."

Another Web site notes:

"During the year 1888, a Building and Loan Association of this city made an attractive offer to the congregation. It was to erect a suitable building for the church that would reflect credit upon the rapidly growing membership. The members felt equal to the task and under the pastorate of the Rev. J.H. Hill, the officers and loyal members contracted with this Building and Loan Association for a lot on School Street and a commodious stone church. Payments were to be made regularly in quarterly installments, but God had not promised the sunshine without rain. It began to rain on the congregation for a short period of three years and in 1903, while the Sunday School was in rehearsal, agents of the company that built the church ordered the participants to vacate the building. The doors and windows were sealed. This was evidence that the officers and members had not kept their part of the agreement and the owners repossessed the building.

"This was indeed a sad time for the members. Many of them became discouraged and drifted here and there, but a few undaunted ones congregated on the lower level of the Benevolent Hall on St. Francis Street. The rain began to cease and a new day dawned for their beloved church."

In January 1904, the lot on M.L. King was purchased from $1,000 from William and Frances Van Dyke.

The worship schedule at St. Paul AME includes Sunday school at 9:30 a.m., worship at 10:45 a.m., Wednesday prayer at noon and youth and adult Bible study at 6 p.m. Wednesdays.

Motto for the 135-year-old congregation is "We've Been Expecting You at St. Paul AME Church. There's a place for you in the African Methodist Episcopal Church."

For further information about the church call 829-3918. The Web site is stpaulamecstaugfl.org.

The current steward board includes Jacqueline Bryant, pro-tem; Gabriel Holliday, secretary; James Allen Sr., Avis Chase, Joann Johnson, Reginald Covil, Rayfield Cullar, Barbara Jackson, Alert Manning, Hennie Patten, Karen Rowe, George H. Smith and Cora Tyson.

Trustee board members are Ben Stevenson, pro-tem; Ina Backman, Arnett Chase II, Kenneth McClain, J. Randy Johnson, Kathy Hadley-Smith, M. Joyce Ramsey, Frank Woods and James Allen Jr.


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