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HISTORY OF THE USHER
FELLOWSHIP OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF THE In the year
1939, the first meeting of the National Usher Fellowship was Held at the Detroit
Church of God, Mrs. Bessie
Wilson, Rev. C.A. Craig, and a few others saw the need for more efficient
ushering at our National Conventions and volunteered their services. It was
evident that they were filling a real need and their service attracted much
attention. The next year, 1940, Rev. White recommended to the National
Trustees and Ministers that a National Usher president be selected. Mr.
Daniel S. Phillips, a deacon from Mrs. Culp was
elected as the first National Usher President in 1940. Since that
long ago election, Mrs. Culp says, "There have been many struggles and
many changes. We feel that these changes have been helpful, and that our
Ushers Fellowship has developed into a much more efficient organization.
Where there is no struggle there is no active development. The Annual
Camp Meeting is the Fellowship. Years ago Mrs.
Culp decided since she was being retained from year to year, or being elected
every two years, she must improve her leadership in order to hold a high
standard of ushering. She therefore, began to do research work in the field
of ushering. She found much material available, and subsequently was brought
into contact with a Early in
1957, Mrs. Culp led the National Ushers in a drive to recruit and train new
ushers. “|captainships” were set up in many states. Enthusiasm grew by leaps
and bounds, and soon different teams of ushers were being used each day of
our National Camp (Meeting each year. Words are
inadequate to express the value of the contributions of the Rev. Gabriel
Dixon, pastor of the Cote Brilliante Avenue Church
of God, St. for
years was Chairman of the 'West Middlesex Ministerial Assembly. His fatherly
counsel and sympathetic guidance meant much to the Fellowship during
difficult years. Mrs. Culp, in her kindly way says of him, “He not only
taught us, but he put on his tuxedo and showed us how. The ushers feel that
he is “The Head Usher!'' His untiring efforts and encouragement meant
everything to us. With his fatherly care for us, the Ushers Fellowship made
great progress. Year after
year, many churches joined the Fellowship. It has become a wonderful
enterprise. It reached international dimensions when the Angle Street Church
of God, In 1952,
Sister Daisy Davis had a vision of a National Ushers Convention and brought
it to the attention of Sister Esther Culp and Rev. Cochran. It was in
1954 in marked
the tenth consecutive year of meetings. Each year an annual banquet with
program and speaker is held; there is the crowning of a “State of The Ushers
Fellowship has lived to see progress in the National Association
of the The ushers
have made their contribution in both the spiritual and financial phases; the
concrete floor of the tabernacle was paid by the ushers. The ushers also
donated $300.00 for the purchase of the folding chairs. The front alter in
the tabernacle is always graced with flowers and ferns placed there by the
ushers. In 1963 a
check for $ 1,000.00 was given from the ushers for furthering the general
work of the National Association. In 1964, $700.00 was given. The National
Ushers Fellowship is an integral arm of the National Work. The President
and all the present and former ushers are humbly proud to have had the
opportunity of serving the Church on a national scale. Mrs. Culp, the one
most responsible for the years of progress and growth expresses the feeling
of the entire Fellowship when she says, “We are happy to be a part of the
National Association and members of the great team of national workers!'' In 1976, the
first Ushers Choir was implemented by Sis. Luesther
Pierce. We have had
an ushers choir at our National Convention ever since. Also in 1976, the
first youth minister was used at one of our conventions, in the person of
Min. Timothy Clarke. By the year
1985, many of these great leaders have gone on to receive their great reward.
They have given us a good beginning to a great work. They have made
the ministry of Ushering known far and wide. By having such a ministry, the
church has been helped and we as ushers have received great blessings, and
spiritual help as Christians. The ushers
have served at the campground, at field days in their states, at funerals,
and in their local congregations. We have
workshops from time to time in different states and also at the campground.
The workshops are led by ministers and ushers that are dedicated to the work
of the Lord. The National
Ushers Convention makes more than a working contribution to the campground.
We also collect dues from each state and with this money we do different
things on the campground. The flowers and pulpit decorations are part of our
work. We now share this with the Missionary group. We have given to the new
tabernacle also. We have
several of the original ushers that were among the founders still with us.
Sis. Irene Love and Sis. Daisy We have had
others to join Sis. Some of
the Workshop leaders: Rev.
R.S. Jackson Rev.
G. Sis.
Vivian Cobb Sis.
Mildred Hall Rev.
John Hall Rev.
James Walls Rev.
Robert Culp Sis.
Luesther Pierce Sis.
Dorothy Hoye Rev.
J.C. Wilbur Rev. L.
Wyatt Sis.
Lucille Johnson Sis.
Ruth Harrison) Sis.
Reeba Cooper Rev.
Lonnie Mashack Rev.
E. Mitchell Sis.
Vera Allen Rev.
James Jackson Rev.
Jodie Holliway Rev.
Bcnard Claytor Rev.
Ernestine Corbett Sis.
Daisy Rev. Roland
Cooper Dr
Ira Russell Rev. Ronald
Fowler Dr.
Eric Raymond Chin Dr W.G.
Robinson-McNeese Rev.
Phillip Turner Dr. Dorothy
Osgood Sis
Rev. Jerald
January Rev.
Bro. James
W. Crumbly, Jr. Bro.
James Rev. James
I. Marshall Sis.
Laura Pharr We cannot possibly
have a history of the ushers without including the faithful labors of Sis.
Bessie Wilson and the hundreds of red roses she made for the ushers. Even
when she was not well, she made these flowers and brought them to our
conventions. Faithful to the end. To repeat the
words of Sis. Culp, “We are happy to be a part of the National Association,
and members of the great team of national workers!'' We as ushers also add to
this statement - We will continue to do the work of the Lord until He calls
us from labor to reward Historian, Sis. Daisy 1964 - 1989 Edited by, Sis. Girlean Tinsley 2002 The
National Ushers continues to contribute to the upkeep of the West Middlesex
Campgrounds. They contributed towards the paving of the roads and the completion
of the administration building. The National Ushers also gave $7,000.00
towards the installation of the carpeting in the Tabernacle and $5,000 for
the-completion of a room in Frisby Hall. The National
Ushers deeply regret the death of one of their former faithful Presidents -
Sister Betty Lawson, December 27:, 1998. Her
favorite saying was, “we have not because we ask not” The road at Lewis Reed of
Past Presidents served: Sister Esther Culp Sharon, PA 1955
- 1969 Brother Robert Rhodes Brother Jewell Johnson Sister Sybil Chisolm Sister Betty Thomas Sister Betty Lawson Sister Laura Sister Our Present
President is: The National
ushers continues to grow and our prayers are that the youth will get the
vision of Ushering for the Master. Humbly
submitted, Juanita
Wilson Historian, 1996
- 1999 Spiritual
Resource Coordinator, 1999 - 2002 PLACES WHERE
THE USHERS CONVENTION HAS BEEN HELD
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