[The] Rev. Ronnie Elijah Brailsford Sr., pastor, Bethel AME Church, Columbia<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are a resilient people of faith in God. Why? Because God is with us. Emmanuel means, \u201d\u02dcGod is with us.\u2019 We (the AME church) are a people of the Christian faith. We will celebrate 200 years of being formally organized as the AMEC in July of 2016. Nearly 200 years ago, the founding father, Bishop Richard Allen, lead his people courageously through many trials, temptations, tests, threats and dangers. He had to fight to be free and remain free. He had to overcome fears from within and without. He had to overcome racism and bigotry. Yet, with faith in God, he stood strong and boldly.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is not the first time our resolve as a people of faith, whose color happens to be black, has had to withstand difficult and trying times. . . We have come too far to turn around. The power of our love is too strong for hate.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus\u2019 blood and righteousness. Thus, we stand. The work of the Lord shall go forward. Why? Because we are the people of Emmanuel. God is with us.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n