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Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Sr. came to Western Michigan in the fall of 1937 and was placed in two churches. - one in Muskegon, MI and the second one was in Grand Rapids. He remained in Grand Rapids until September of 1940 and took over a mission church in the city of Benton Harbor. The mission church in Benton Harbor grew and three sanctuaries were built under his leadership. There is over a total of thirty-four congregations in the city of Benton Harbor and all of these churches have directly or indirectly sprung from the ministry of Bishop Wells Sr. Bishop Wells Sr. came to Muskegon to run a thirty day revival and a church was founded. He continued to pastor the Muskegon church from 1937 until April of 1977 when he turned the pastorate over to his elder son who is now the church's present pastor. Bishop Wells was one of twenty three children born to Richard and Louise Easley Wells. He also built a church in Muskegon and completed it in 1959. He was quite a church builder. The Western Michigan Jurisdiction which is overseen by the present bishop (Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr.) really sprung from the labor of Bishop and Mother Wells Sr. Bishop Wells Sr. departed this life in September of 1985 and we cherish his memory. Mother Mildred Casenia Hayward Wells, our bishop's mother, was married to Bishop Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Sr. for fifty-seven years. From that union were born four children - the eldest, Nathaniel Wyoming Wells Jr., the late Joyce Jean Bells, Patricia Casenia Wells and Elder Milton H. Wells. Mother Wells was born the seventh child of George Henry and Gertrude Eleanor Hayward of Philadelphia. She was educated in the Philadelphia Public School System specializing in recreation and education. After embracing Christ, she taught in Vacation Bible School, Sunday School and Sunshine Band. She also conducted revivals and worked with her husband, sometimes teaching in services that he would be conducting. Mother Wells was given evangelistic papers in 1929. Mother Wells' avocation of working with children and teenagers brought her into national prominence. She organized a teenagers unit in the local church. Through her efforts she rose to various posts of leadership in the National Churches of God in Christ. National recognition was gained by her creation and publishing Bible stories for children of all ages. Evolving from her work with the Sunshine Band at the local church Mother Wells was inspired to edit a national publication "Sunshine Band Topics." "Sunshine Band Topics" is a quarterly publication which is mailed to the Churches of God in Christ in every state in the United States and Haiti. Haiti alone receives five hundred copies of this publication and requests have also come from Canada, England, and South Africa. Mother Wells was appointed National Editor of "Sunshine Band Topics" by the late Mrs. Lillian B. Coffey, Women's National and State Supervisor. In connection with her position as National Teenage Leader, Mother Wells had the tremendous task of a program for the 1960 Youth Congress. It was held in Washington D. C. and she was responsible for outlining the entire program of religious and social activities of "Teenagers for Christ." In June of 1961 Mother Wells served as program chairman of the national meeting of the Young People's Willing Workers of which the Teenage group is a unit. She gathered talent from states all over the United States for the big Talent Program held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mother Wells was appointed by Bishop Ozro T. Jones Sr. M.A. of Philadelphia, Pa., Bishop of the Eastern Diocese of the Churches of God in Christ and the late Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ National and International, thereafter she organized Teenage Units in various other states. Because of her work with teenagers and the elderly, Mother Wells was appointed by Governor G. Mennen Williams as a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging, held in Washington, D. C. in January 1961. Mother Wells says she derives great satisfaction and much enjoyment form helping young people live by Christian principles and build morally wholesome lives. She is quick to detect leadership ability or talent in a young person and acts to foster these qualities. Gifted individuals are placed on programs at every opportunity so that they may gain experience and increase their confidence and poise. She is a firm believer that the busy young person has no time for juvenile delinquency. Mother Wells provides plenty of activities through her Teenage Program and Sunshine Band to keep minds and hands occupied. Mother Wells has served as Vice Chairman of the Berrien County Democratic Committee, Secretary of the Democratic Women's Auxiliary of Berrien County, and Publicity Chairman during Gov. G. Mennen Williams administration in 1959. In 1974 she was presented a Certificate of Merit Award from the NAACP, and in 1975 the Community Groups also honored her for services to the community. We, her spiritual family, want to commend her for her devotion, sacrifice and unselfish esteem that she has bestowed upon us. And we are continuously praying for her health and long life for we know that women of her magnitude are few and far between. |
