Rev. Fordham Retirement

Attendees were blessed to share in the retirement service of Reverend Dr. R. Aquilla Fordham who served admirably as the Senior Pastor of Ebenezer A.M.E.-Galesvile, MD. He was also founder of Faith Temple A.M.E which later became Brookins-Faith Temple A.M.E .

We came in the words of Dr. Fordham to say "Thank Ya" for his service by offering tributes. Rev. Abraham Smith (A.M.E. Ministerial Alliance) encapsulated Dr. Fordham in one word-serve. Rev. Johnathan  Weaver offered tribute from the Collective Empowerment Group. Rev. Dr. Isaiah S. Harvin (current pastor of Brookins Faith Temple) offered tribute in Whitney Houston's song lyrics saying, "we wish you joy and happiness, but above all, we wish you love--we will always love you".



A tearful but loving tribute was given by Dr. Fordham's daughter, Ms. Sheika Mancle, who admired her father as loving, humorous, and competitive when it came to family board games. Other tributes were given by Ebenezer-Galesville, Revs Dr. Grainger and JoAnn Browning and Potomac Presiding Elder Louis-Charles Harvey.

The service closed with a riveting sermon by our own Bishop William P. DeVeaux, Sr. entitled "The Mighty Men of God"-taken from 2 Samuel 23:20, praising Dr. Fordham as being honored, valiant, simply did his work and did what God asked him to do.

We ended with a invitation to Discipleship by Reverend Harold B. Hayes (Hunter Memorial AME) calling on the ministers of the Washington Conference to join Dr. and Mrs. Fordham at the alter not for "retirement" but for "refirement". To God be the Glory!!!