Johnson Memorial CME To Build New Church In Byron, Georgia

 

 

 

 

By Marvella Ivery

 

Serving in her first appointment as pastor, Reverend VaRonda Hill Brown has been on the move to build W. J. Johnson Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church in Byron, Georgia since 2005.  Reverend Brown is an Ordained Elder in the Central Georgia Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. Her assignments entailed moving the old church from a rural area in Crawford County to the City of Byron in Peach County as well as increase the membership.

Rev. Varonda Hill Brown

W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church is preparing to move from good to great in the 21^st century.  They celebrated their groundbreaking worship service for the construction of a new church edifice on Sunday, January 13, 2008.  The new church is located at 110 Walker Road, Byron, Georgia, behind the Byron Post Office off Highway 49.  Reverend VaRonda Hill Brown, Pastor, wants to see the church serve the community and the world.   It is her vision to reach and teach people how to apply the Word of God to their lives and receive deliverance, restoration and abundant life in a challenging world.  

W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church, formerly known as Spring Hill CME Church, is a historical church.  On October 5, 1883, the land for Spring Hill CME Church was purchased in Crawford County.  Spring Hill Colored Church and School was the original name.  In the early 1940’s, the name changed to Spring Hill Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.  In 1954, the denomination’s name changed from Colored Methodist Episcopal to Christian Methodist Episcopal.  In 2005, Bishop Othal H. Lakey, Presiding Prelate of the 6^th Episcopal District of the CME Church, changed the name to W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church, in honor of the late Reverend Willie J. Johnson.  Reverend Willie J. Johnson, Pastor of Spring Hill CME Church in 2003-2005, was a well known civic and community leader as well as a great pastor who was well respected in the community.

W.J. Johnson Memorial CME Church in Crawford County

The late Rev. Willie J. Johnson was able to record a CD entitled “Family Ties”, which is a combination of gospel songs, before his demise in June 2005.  The proceeds of the CD sales are donated to the church building fund.  If you would like to purchase a gospel CD to benefit the building of the W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church, call (478) 923-3036. 

The current ministries of the church include Boy Scouts, Outreach, and Evangelism. Reverend Brown says, “One of my long-term goals for a future ministry is to have an accredited K-5 school.”  W. J. Johnson Memorial CME has a Boy Scout Troop that was reactivated by Reverend Brown’s husband, Major George M. Brown, USMC (Ret.).  The Troop #152 started with only two boys and currently has sixteen boys. Reverend Brown proudly said, “The boy scouts have recently earned four merit badges: swimming, cycling, citizenship in the community, and camping.”  The Boy Scouts were required to cycle from Byron to Fort Valley State University and return to Byron in order to receive their cycling merit badge.  The church has an outreach ministry where they evangelize and minister to the people in the community.  In addition, there is a benevolent outreach ministry where they provide food baskets to families in need.

During 2005-2006, the congregation worshipped at the old Byron Elementary School.  Reverend Brown’s husband and two sons moved the furniture from the old church to the school’s lunchroom every Sunday and set up a sanctuary for worship service.  Major Brown says that, “Being a pastor’s spouse is very demanding which involves taking a lot of roles. I have learned from this new assignment that you must have a lot of patience when building a church and congregation at the same time. A combination of those things and others has put me in the position to be a great help by the grace of God.”

The following year, services were held every Sunday afternoon at Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Byron until the church burned on November 17, 2007.

W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church will worship at the Byron Community Center, 405 Boy Scout Road in Byron every Sunday at 3:00 p.m. until the church construction is completed.  The Gospel Kings recording group sing at W. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church every third Sunday of each month.

Mrs. Bernice McAfee, who has been a member for forty-eight years, says that she has a vision forW. J. Johnson Memorial CME Church.  She serves as chairman of the trustee board.  Mrs. McAfee says, “I would like for us to get more members.  I would like to see the young people involved on different boards and become great leaders in the church.  We have three young people who are members.  The older members can lead and guide them.  I would like to see a choir and the young people involved with the usher’s ministry. Pastor Brown is nice and giving. She tries to help people wherever she is needed.  I am glad to know her.  She is off to a great start.  Everyone seems to like her and get along well with her.  She is a compassionate person.”

Mrs. Shirlyn Johnson-Granville says, “Pastor Brown loves the church.  Her enthusiasm will cause people to gravitate to her with her spirit.  The gospel will be preached and lives will be enriched.”

Presently, Reverend Brown is a student in the Master of Divinity Degree program at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), Phillips School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia.  She designed and illustrated the 2008 ITC Calendar.

Reverend Brown earned a Master’s Degree in Education, and has been a teacher for sixteen years.  She is a teacher in the Henry County School District. 

Since 1995, Reverend Brown has been a Life Member of the NAACP. In 1998, she was appointed as the NAACP Michigan State Conference Assistant Chaplain.  Subsequently, she was elected the NAACP Michigan State Conference Chaplain in 1999. 

Reverend Brown said with enthusiasm, “All things are possible with God! Soon we will have a permanent place to worship and meet the needs of the community.  Praise the Lord!”