It took three sessions, over two days, but the reports had been completed, and in near record time for the Philadelphia Annual Conference. Sitting in the pulpit area of historic Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, Bishop Philip R. Cousin Sr. smiled and declared there were some good things, no make that great things, going on in the church in which he holds the office of Bishop.

He had just finishing listening to the reports of the Harrisburg Presiding Elder District of the Philadelphia Annual Conference. This District has several churches, that people traditionally looked upon as small. It has several preachers in place that are going to school as they pastor. Many of them are in Shippensburg College in Central Pennsylvania.

But as the reports were read, one church after another, there was growth, spiritual as well as numeric, there was enthusiasm, and in at least one or two cases, real reason to rejoice since at one point it was thought the churches might have to be closed.

This was Bishop Cousin's last time to hear reports from this group of young and enthusiastic preachers. It was easy to see he was proud.

One of the many success stories was that of St. Peters A.M.E. Church in Shippensburg. Bishop Cousin said it was one of the first "storms" he had to face in his role of Bishop for the First Episcopal District. He said the people there had talked about withdrawing from the denomination and he had to travel to talk to the people.

St. Peter's currently is pastored by Rev. Marcellus Norris, son of Episcopal candidate Rev. Richard Franklin Norris. Rev. Marcellus Norris outlined in his report that this year St. Peter's moved into a new and improved facility. Attendance was up. New programs had been instituted. And no one now was asking to withdraw from the denomination.

There apparently had been questions about Bethel McConnelsburg being able to survive, but it too showed growth and positive advancement under the supply of Licentiate Diane Jefferson. Attendance was reported to be up, spirit was said to be high during services and the church had a delegate at the conference.

These were just two examples of a string of success stories that marked the reading of the Harrisburg district. Similar stories could be gleaned from the three other Presiding Elder Districts that had read, The Philadelphia District, The West District and the South District.

The Bishop acknowledge that there was some work needed, and room for some improvement in the Philadelphia Annual conference. That some churches only were great in name and were resting on their laurels. Those churches,, which he left un-named, he said should capture and exhibit some of the enthusiasm and fire of his young preachers and their small, but rapidly growing churches.

Bishop Cousin said as a church, we would be much better off lifting up the things we do well and right, rather than telling the whole world, and preoccupying, on what things we are doing wrong. Literally putting our dirt on the streets.

And in the spirit of that thought, Bishop Cousin had to smile at the positive energy, raw enthusiasm, and soaring spirituality that came before him during the reading of the reports.

On the subject of enthusiasm, if you have never heard a nearly 100-year-old man preach and shout, attend an annual conference where the Senior of all Bishops is in attendance, Bishop Decatur Ward Nichols.

He has been present for the first two days of the Philadelphia Annual Conference. He calls Philadelphia home, and despite the fact he is just shy of 100, it is not uncommon to find his active support at Philadelphia area church events.

Thursday, he sat in the pulpit to the left, adjacent to Bishop Cousin. Flanking Bishop Cousin to his right was Presiding Elder Joseph Tull of Delaware. Bishop Nichols listened attentively through the day's two sessions of reports. At their conclusion, he was given time to address the Conference.

He did so with power and wit. Joking how great this conference was for him. That he was able to sit back and just watch Bishop Cousin work and then be carried, and rolled in his wheelchair from spot to spot. He praised the food, and praised the Bishop leading the conference, saying his presence will be missed.

This was not the speech of a weak, frail, old man. Bishop Nichols literally roared his way through his opportunity to address his co-workers in the vineyard. Most people were waiting for, and in truth kind of hoping for, the sermon that seemed only a short Holy Ghost prod away.

It was yet another moment of inspiration and joy during a day where most of the notes were both clear and high.

The spiritual anchor for the daylight part of the Conference, came with the electrifyingly powerful sermon from visiting Episcopal Candidate Rev. Albert D. Tyson III, pastor of historic St. Stephens in Chicago.

Rev. Tyson preached from Matthew 8:23-27 and on the theme of "Take Charge of the Storm" reflecting on how, with Jesus in the hold of the tossed and driven ship, the storm was quieted, when Jesus was called upon.

Rev. Tyson explored this theme, cutting a straight path to the heart of this matter. He lead his rapt listeners first along a whirlwind course through the Biblical background and by the time he reached the implications for every day living, the magnetic impact of his sermon was such that most of the people in the Mother Bethel sanctuary were on their feet hanging on his every word.

"Take Charge of the Storms in Your Life," he implored. Outlining what some of them could be. The spirit was high, the energy was overwhelming. And once he lit fire, Rev. Tyson sat down. It was the ultimate example of an economic yet powerful sermon, proving you do not have to preach long to preach strong. Rev. Tyson had delivered a great Word at noon day worship for all in attendance to feed upon.

Mother Bethel was the perfect setting for his inspirational day. The founding church of the denomination literally glistens. Mother Bethel Pastor, Rev. Jeffrey Leath, has brought the historic facility to a new level of majesty.

And if you took just a moment to watch this pastor in action, flanked by his lovely hard-working partner and wife, Dr. Susan Leath, you could sense the catalyst of the spirit that now drives and directs Mother Bethel. Rev. Leath and his wife are not hands-off type of people. During this week I have watched this family unit do everything from run a sound system to move tables. They lead by example.

Mother Bethel was packed for the day-concluding Lay Night Services hosted by . Reverdy Ransome Garrett, the President of the Philadelphia Annual Conference Lay, who will be striving for the same position for the First Episcopal District, when elections are held on July 27th, following the General Conference.

For this historic night, he teamed with another candidate of note, the Rev. Richard Franklin Norris, pastor of St. Mathew A.M.E. Church and candidate for Episcopal honors, who was the preacher of the hour.

In a display of raw power and eloquent grace, Rev. Norris showed himself to be qualified in many ways for the office he seeks.

Friday, the Philadelphia Annual Conference will reconvene at 3801 Market Street in the Headquarters Building of the First Episcopal District.

For a schedule of the Philadelphia Annual Conference [Click Here] To see what happened the previous day at the Philadelphia Annual conferece [Click Here]