Download a PDF version of this years Annual Report.

FAME is converting the 2011 Annual Report to a 12-page print format, reducing the amount of paper consumption for the annual edition. This will result in a substantive decline in paper consumption and the associated environmental impact.

LET’S ALL MAKE A “GREEN” EFFORT TO REDUCE, RECYCLE AND REUSE.

  
   



       
   

As I conclude my seventh year of service as the Senior Minister of this historic and nationally influential congregation, I thank almighty God for His sustaining power, peace and presence which I have drawn upon each day this past year. The love of my life, my wife Denise, has been an endless fountain of joy and love. For all Denise means to me and for her dynamic leadership of the FAME Corporations, along with her incredible community advocacy, I give God praise.

How great a debt of gratitude I owe to our Presiding Bishop, T. Larry Kirkland, for his spiritual guidance and wisdom that has undergirded my ministry at FAME. Where would we be without the nurturing hand of Presiding Elder Norman Copeland? What a friend he has proven to be! I thank them both for all they represent!

When I respect upon this past year and remember how the officers, ministerial staff, and membership have invested time, talent and treasure into the numerous programs, initiatives and ministries of FAME, I rejoice from the depths of my heart. God is good and greatly to be praised for the hundreds of souls that have been saved and the thousands of His people that have been served through our church and corporations.

Our theme for 2011 has challenged us to rise to new levels of commitment: “What Do Christians Look Like? Know It and Show It! From Membership To Discipleship”. While FAME has a great legacy, we truly believe the best is yet to come!

Please pray as we continue to strive to save souls, educate minds, heal bodies, protect human rights and foster economic growth and development for ALL.

To God be the Glory!

Pastor John

 

      
   

It is my sincere honor to make my 7th report as the President and Chief Operating Ocer of FAME Corporations. is past year has been unequaled in challenges for the African American community as we face record unemployment, foreclosure rates, and disparities in disease. Yet through it all, God has remained faithful to His promise to “never leave us and never forsake us.”

To my husband and best friend, I offer my deepest thanks for your love, prayers and our oneness in Christ Jesus. To Bishop and Mrs. Kirkland, your godly leadership and love has been a blessing and a mainstay. To our staff and volunteers, I don’t have words to properly convey how much your tireless support means as you make it possible each and every day to accomplish our mission of being “First to Serve.” I look forward to what the future holds for us, as we continue to nd meaningful and innovative ways to serve our community.

While making this report, we are basking in the glow of a grand community celebration where more than 200,000 residents came out to enjoy great food, fellowship and fun. Through our partnership with the Los Angeles Sentinel, FAME was blessed to host the Gospel Stage at the 6th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival. During this spirit-filled day of entertainment, we spotlighted a distinguished panel of First Ladies from multiple denominations in “Living the First Lady Life: First Ladies Unplugged;” got the crowd up and moving with the Let’s Move L.A. Flashmob featuring hundreds of dancers from the community; enjoyed the praise-filled voices of celebrated choirs, including two “How Sweet the Sound” contest winners, and national gospel recording artists; and heard the inspired words of renowned preachers of the gospel. We are also pleased to partner with Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ once on the “Choose Well” initiative, devoted to educating, increasing screening among, and providing counseling to our youth who are at high risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. The 2nd Supervisorial District in Los Angeles County has some of the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections in the nation, with African American youth representing the greatest percentage of cases. FAME is working diligently to reverse this negative trend and encourage our children to take pride in and care of their bodies and themselves.

As we continue to address the most pressing concerns in our community, our efforts led us to partner with the California Legislative Black Caucus on several initiatives this year, including the Friends Helping Haiti Benefit Concert; the Congressional Black Caucus Jobs Tour; the Moneywise Empowerment Tour with PBS Host Kelvin Boston; and, the KJLH Women’s Health Forum with more than 4,000 women in attendance. Additionally, FAME was honored to host distinguished guests such as Congressman James Clyburn, Bennett College President Julianne Malveaux, Israeli Ambassador Michael Oren, author Iyanla Vanzant, and Harvard Professor Charles Ogletree, giving them an opportunity to share their wisdom and insights with our congregation and community.

Additionally, we have worked with investors and Financial institutions to raise $10,000,000 in investment capital to launch Project: Save Our Homes and FAME Financial Services, a two-fold initiative designed to place community residents in homes at discounted rates, while providing long-term nancial literacy education and coaching to enable these new homeowners to maintain nancial security and avoid foreclosure. We also continue our strong partnership with First Lady Michelle Obama on the “Let’s Move” campaign to end the epidemic of childhood obesity and encourage all we touch to lead healthier, longer lives. To date, our Let’s Move L.A. team has logged more than 150,000 miles as we work together, and walk together, to combat obesity and diet and exercise related diseases. Equally important, we have worked with Congresswoman Maxine Waters to provide food items and school supplies to the residents of Watts as they have suered through this economic recession.

Truly, we have been blessed with our capacity to support our community and create opportunities to elevate and empower the residents we serve. We also recognize that God is not through with us yet, so we prayerfully wait to hear from God for his continuing direction, vision and provision as we look forward to the new challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

In His Service,

Denise Hunter

 

      
                                       
 

   
                                       
    Stewards      

FAMES’ Pastoral Staff

Rev. J. L. Armstrong
Rev. Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis
Rev. Cassandra Clark
Rev. Roosevelt Dorn
Rev. Dr. Carolyn Herron
Rev. Walter Love
Rev. Rosie Medina
Rev. Sharita Mitchell
Rev. Sylvia Smith
Rev. Eduardo Vickers
Rev. Dr. Helen Easterling-Williams
Rev. Floyd Patterson

Leadership

Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Sr.
~Presiding Prelate

Mrs. Mary L. Kirkland
~Episcopal Supervisor

Rev. Dr. Norman D. Copeland
~Presiding Elder

Rev. Dr. John J. Hunter
~Senior Minister

Mrs. Denise Hunter
~First Lady

In Memoriam:
Rev. Lucius Okoh
Janet Timmons

    
   

Board #1
Judge Irma Brown Dillon – Chair Pro Tem
Jackie Brown
Clarence Daniels
Joyce Dorn
Arthur Gainer
Lawrence Gower
Howard Green
Gloria Lightner
Kerman Maddox
Anitha Mitchell Logan
Erol Mowatt
Delores Orduna
Dessie Roberts
Jacquelyn Snead
Clark Vanish
C.T. Taylor

Emeritus Stewards
William Curtis
Hasten Folk
Grace Goward

  

Board #2
Annie Battle-Bolden – Chair Pro Tem
Cheri Arnold
Brenda Elliott-White
Michael Ellison-Lewis
Bernice Gaines
Shelley Hughes
Vincent Jackson
Ronald Johnson
Shujuan Littlejohn
Anita Maxey
Lloyd Nelson
Rosalind Perry
Natalie Shackles
Ava omas
Michael Warren
Jack Williams

 

        
Trustees      

Board #1
Melville Perry – Chair Pro Tem
David Butler
Joseph Duncan
Dorothy Goodrich
Ellis Gordon
Karl Grant
Robert King
Beth Ross
Archie Shackles
Dorothy Tarkington-Mallery
Jacqueline White-Brown
Robert Wilson

Emeritus Trustees
Pearl Keller
Janet Timmons
John Whitney

  

Board #2
Elmon Von Leggett – Chair Pro Tem
Gloria Blanton
Herbert Brookins
Karen Caee
Andre Crenshaw
Alma Davis
Sharon Flowers
Jeanette Harris
Vivian Hines
Keith Johnson
Allison Leggett
Donald K. Wilson
Major Woodard

      
         
                                       
     

Sunday Worship:
8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 Noon

Sunday School:
10:00 a.m.

Tuesday: Pastor’s Bible Study:
7:00 p.m. Church Plaza Level

Wednesday: Prayer and Worship:
12:00 Noon

Thursday: Young Adult Ministry:
7:00 p.m. Church Plaza Level


First African Methodist
Episcopal Church of Los Angeles
2270 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90018

Church Main Office: (323) 730-7750
FAME Renaissance: (323) 730-7700
FAME Housing: (323) 730-7760

 

                          
        First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles is the oldest church founded by African Americans in the City of Angels. In 1872 Mrs. Biddy Mason received the vision from God to establish a church that would minister to the mind, body and soul of all who would join that small band of believers. That vision and small band of believers has grown to what is now a congregation of more than 19,000 members and several dozen ministries within 13 corporations that bless and reach tens of thousands of seekers in greater metropolitan Los Angeles. Built on the foundation laid by Bishop Richard Allen who in the City of Philadelphia in 1787 started the movement vthat later became the African Methodist Episcopal Church, FAME Church finds joy in being the “First To Serve.”        

 

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