Bethel AME Church

To uplift the name of Jesus through our living, singing and testimony.

History

BVOL is celebrating its 15th year in the ministry in 2010. This choir has a rich history.

In 1994, some of Sister Gloria Oakley's original Youth Choir members (now adults) and some of the older teenagers formed the Young Adult Choir. Sister Oakley served as our first director, but she quickly turned the mantle of leadership over to Brother Kevin Benjamin. Brother Benjamin led the choir for a year before his calling led him away from Bethel. Sister Oakley was willing to reclaim the mantle of leadership, but Ron and Regina Hall walked into Bethel one Sunday and the rest is history.

Sister Gloria Oakley

Sister Oakley reorganized the Youth Choir, keeping that name for ages 3-12 and forming the Intermediate Choir for the teenagers. Around that same time, with much prayer, God gave us a new name for our ministry: Bethel Voices Of Light. BVOL has been part of the music ministry of Bethel ever since.

Sister Regina Hall, Keyboards

Brother Ron Hall, Director

BVOL has ministered throughout Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Philadelphia. In 1996, BVOL gave a concert at Morris Brown AME Church in Philadelphia. We ministered at the Wilmington citywide Martin Luther King Day celebration at the Grand Opera House in 1999. Later that same year, we performed a gospel play, "Unconditional Love," written by one of our past members Tanny Collins for our anniversary celebration. More recently, BVOL has ministered at Bethel's street outreach worship services in the neighborhood surrounding our church for the past four years. For the past two years, BVOL has ministered at Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, DE for their Praise Nights and at the Black History Program held at the Brandywine Library.