First A.M.E.Church of Alexandria (F.A.M.E.)

My Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
 
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!  It is with great excitement and joy that we are celebrating another milestone in the life of First A.M.E. of Alexandria  our 30th Anniversary. 

Our Theme this year is:  “30 Years: Emboldened, Energized and Exhilarated by God’s Grace and Power” taken from the Scripture:  Romans 8:30-33.
 
As we stand here today, called, committed and justified in our faith and belief in Christ Jesus, believing as Paul said:   “If God be for us, who can be against us”?  We honor and celebrate God’s blessings as well as those who have contributed much to the life and ministry of F.A.M.E.   The past 30 years have not been without sacrifice and struggle but through it all God has blessed us and kept us beyond our hopes and expectations.
 
Thirty years as a family church can be considered by some as a short life in ministry.  As your Pastor for the pasted three years, I believe we have made wise choices, thoughtful decisions, and Spirited-inspired actions.  The decision twenty eight years ago to follow Christ was the beginning of a journey that leads to Life, Abundant Life, and Blessed Results.
 
I encourage each one of you to remain bold, energized and exhilarated in your work and service to the glory of God.  Remember, the battle is not yours, it’s the Lord’s.
 
We are expecting to experience a spiritual miracle in 2014.  Our goal, with God’s help, is to bring more souls to Christ and to Glorify God in everything we do.
 
May God’s Richest Blessings Be Yours!

Rev. Abraham Smith, Jr., Senior Pastor
 

Brother Brown was born, raised, and educated in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a graduate of historic Pearl High School and received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree from Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. He also holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering (MSEE) degree from Farleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey. In 1991, he was awarded a Diploma in Program Management from the Defense Systems Management College at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

In August 1984, Brother Brown joined First A.M.E. Church of Alexandria, one month after First A.M.E. was established. During his time at First A.M.E., he has served as Treasurer, Church School Superintendent and Church School teacher, Vice President Pro Tem of the Board of Trustees, and currently as Vice President Pro Tem of the Steward Board.  He has also been a member of the First A.M.E. Mass Choir and currently  the Voices of David. In 2001, he was honored with the Second Episcopal District Sons of Thunder Man of the Year award. He was licensed as an Exhorter in the A.M.E. Church in 2004.

Brother Brown began his professional career with IBM as a Customer Engineer.  He then spent 15 years as an Electronics Engineer at the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command at Fort Monmouth, NJ. He completed his Federal career as a GM-15 Supervisory General Engineer with the U.S. Army Materiel Command. He retired after 32 years of Federal service in January of 1999. During his career, Brother Brown was honored with two Department of the Army Meritorious Civilian Service Awards, the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award, and four Department of the Army Commander's Awards for Civilian Service. Brother Brown is currently a contractor electro optics engineer with Program Executive Officer (PEO) Soldier at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Brother Brown is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Brother Brown is married to Calister Anthony whom he met at First A.M.E. Church in 1984. They have one son Austin who was the third member of First A.M.E.

Brother James Wesley Brown