History of Saint Mark A.M.E. Church
From a single one-room church in Glassmanor Elementary School to a spacious facility, complete with a fellowship hall, office, landscaped parking lot, a sound room and 300 seat sanctuary. St. Mark is a testimony to prayer, faith and works for God's glory.
At the 1984 Annual Conference, Bishop John Hurst Adams assigned Reverend Henry D. Harper to the Temple Hill Mission to find a Suitable location for a new church. Rev. Harper worked very closely with Rev. George A. Manning of Hunter Memorial Church and Rev. Leon G. Lipscombe of Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church to find the best Possible location for the new church. On May 27,1984 the first service was held at Glassmanor Elementary School in Forest Heights, Maryland. The service supported many members of Hunter Memorial A.M.E. Church, Rev. Harper's former church. Two ministers, Robbie Morton and Michael Bethea, assisted Rev. Harper diligently in the development of the Sunday church services and other aspects of the Church.
On the third Sunday of July 1984, Presiding Elder Walter Hildebrand approved St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church as the name of the new church. St Mark grew rapidly and by the end of the first full church year the total membership had increased to 49 with a church budget of $7,000.00.
During the first year of existence, St. Mark had purchased and fully paid for property for a new building. However, it was God's will for the church to be located in new area and Rev. Harper was obedient to God's will. By faith, with his wife, daughter and 10 active members, Rev. Harper obeyed God and moved to this building, which was formerly a Gino's Restaurant turned Video Shop. God supplies all our needs and on December 15, 1989, we entered into a lease with option to buy. With fervent prayer and dedicated renovation team, our first service was held in God's honor on February 11,1990, in this new building.
Through the many prayers of members and friends over the past years, God has brought us this far by faith. Under the leadership of God's appointed servant, Rev. Henry D. Harper, in 1992 St. Mark entered into negotiation with the owner to purchase the church building. On April 16,1993, God allowed St. Mark to purchase the property for $100,000.00 below the appraised value. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE!
Rev. Harper recognized the need to expand and renovate. In 1993, a church expansion committee was appointed. In 1995, our groundbreaking ceremony was held. Over the next 6 months we endured all the inconveniences associated with a major construction operation in order to enjoy the facility we have now. In addition, St. Mark purchased property next to the church, which has become a successful business. Also in the year 2000 a two-story office building was purchased next door to the church.
St. Mark has always been a community church, participating in community projects that focus on the enhancements of people lives both physical and spiritual. St. Mark has its motto." A Church Of Love, Serving the God of Love".
This motto is the foundation for more than 22 ministries, which focus on praying, witnessing, helping and serving God's people. These ministries include Men's and Women's Fellowship, Young People Department, Sick and Shut-In, Tutorial, Prison and Prayer Petition. Jesus came that we all might have Life; therefore these ministries St. Mark strives to take God's Message of Life, Hope, and Light into a world of Darkness and despair to make a difference!
We continue to trust in God and know that through him all things are possible. If we live in the Spirit, Let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal. 5:25)
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