While football fans cheer for their favorite teams on Sundays, members of Bethany Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles raise their voices in song and praise for their savior.
Tucked in the middle of a residential neighborhood just southwest of the University of Southern California’s campus, Bethany Church of God in Christ has been a part of the local community ever since Bishop Ivor Rowe founded the church in 1954. Tyrone Pearson, the church’s current pastor, officially took the office in 2014 and is only the third person to hold the position in the church's history.
Keilani Grandy, the daughter of the church's second pastor, said Pearson has completely revamped the church for the technological age. There are now church-related Facebook pages and the worship services incorporate television and internet.
Allen Austin, an elder at the church who sometimes performs the sermon, said one different thing about Bethany Church of God in Christ is how it handles tradition.
“A lot of other churches---they have a whole lot of different traditional things that they do,” Austin said. “(A) lot of them aren’t even Biblically based. They just do it because that’s how they’ve been doing it. Here, we’re not really big on traditions. We’re here (to) focus on having a relationship with God … I think that’s what makes this church stand out than a lot of other churches because sometimes traditions can be distracting from actual worship.”
One of the main ways church members at Bethany Church of God in Christ communicate the Word of God is through music. Members of the congregation stand up to clap, sing and even bang tambourines when music is played throughout the service to celebrate the teachings and actions of the Lord.
“I think music is a powerful way in which the spirit of God can channel through to affect and touch the spirit,” Grandy said. “It penetrates your mind. It penetrates your soul. The meaning of the words---you feel it.”
The power of prayer and scripture is also heavily recognized in Bethany Church of God in Christ worship services. Church leaders who say the prayers and sermons are often very animated, changing the tone and loudness of their voices heavily to emphasize prayers and major takeaways from sermons. At the same time, the services also provide a chance for members of the congregation to openly say their own prayers and praises.
“I think that my favorite part is, a lot of times, prayer,” Austin said. “There are some times where the atmosphere of prayer will be like really strong and you can like feel like a change in atmosphere … (It’s the) same kind of thing with the praise and worship. Sometimes you can really get involved in it.”
One unique way the church ministry tries to provide an enhanced religious experience is by having themed worship services. Every month, the church has “Women’s Day” and “Youth Day” worship services. During their respective themed services, women and youth help lead the congregation in singing and praying, and sometimes the church brings in a special guest to present the sermon.
“I think that everybody plays a part in getting the Word of God across,” said Tammekia Murphy, who started attending the church earlier this year. “Whether it be the women, the children, the pastor (or) visitors that come and bring the Word, everybody has a part in that and that’s what church and ministry is about.”
The ministry the church provides also goes beyond the sanctuary. The church has run various events over the years to spread Christianity to others in Los Angeles. Some of these events include donating clothing and going to Skid Row to read scripture to the homeless.
“I think that when you perform community service, it allows some people---some individuals to see first-hand how blessed they really are,” Grandy said. “God blesses us so we can bless others. So when you actually see that happening and you're able to help somebody, it really sends joy to your soul.”
Whether it’s in church service or out in the community, Bethany Church of God in Christ members can always find a way to communicate ministry, but there’s one thing that keeps everyone coming back to the church: the togetherness.
“We are more family-orientated,” Murphy said. “When I don’t come, someone will call me and make sure everything is okay.”