Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church sits along a wooded stretch of Yadkin Road on the west side of Fayetteville, North Carolina, where it has welcomed worshipers for more than a century and a half. The congregation belongs to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion denomination, a tradition that traces its American roots to New York in 1796, and is part of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District under Bishop W. Darin Moore and the Fayetteville District under Presiding Elder Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Brown, Sr. From its two Sunday worship services to a campus humming with weekday choirs, Bible studies, and outreach ministries, Simon Temple is built around a vision of cultivating disciples who embrace, engage, equip, empower, and evangelize.
From Beaver Creek Chapel to Simon Temple
The church's story begins in the nineteenth century. A deed dated November 18, 1873, records that Henry McDonald, with Isaac McDonald, Isaac Baker, Thomas McKoy, and Robert Kelly, sold a tract of land to Beaver Creek Chapel, then operated by trustees of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of America. This land carried the first substantial building of what was known as Beaver Creek Church, and from it grew steps of progress. In 1887, under the leadership of Rev. M. N. Levy, the community purchased an antique church bell that still stands in the courtyard today.
In October 1923, the sanctuary was remodeled with a new top, an enlarged altar, new doors, and new windows. Beaver Creek became a stational church in 1930 after years of sharing a circuit with New Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church. A brick church replaced the earlier structure in 1937 under Rev. J. Z. Siler. Two decades later, the educational wing began to take shape: the first wing rose on cinder blocks in the 1950s, and the second wing followed under Rev. DeWitt Womack between 1964 and 1973. During the pastorate of Rev. Cajus B. Howell, from 1973 to 1985, a new sanctuary was built and the educational wing was remodeled in brick.
On November 9, 1976, the congregation voted to rename itself Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in honor of Simon of Cyrene, the Black African who carried the cross of Jesus when Christ became physically exhausted on the way to Calvary. After shorter pastorates by Rev. George Miller and Rev. James Sloan, Rev. Franklin L. Rush arrived in November 1990. Within months, the church mortgage was liquidated. Rush also launched the annual Homecoming tradition in August 1991, oversaw a full renovation of the Educational Building and a new dining hall, paved the parking lot, and saw roughly 175 new members join. In the fall of 1994, Simon Temple became the first church in its history to host the Annual Conference.
By the end of the 1990s, the church had founded its Children Development Center, and in 1995 it completed campus landscaping and purchased an additional house. The Good Samaritan Ministry launched in September 2004 to feed and clothe the homeless and those less fortunate, and the same year brought a $677,000 renovation project that delivered 300 new seats, a baptismal pool, an enlarged pulpit area, new offices for pastoral and financial staff, a new library, and upgraded space for choirs and musicians. The first baptism in the new pool took place on January 3, 2005, with five candidates. Two four-passenger golf carts now assist elderly and physically challenged members from the parking lots to the sanctuary, and a church bus supports ministry travel.
The Vision and the Foundation Scripture
Simon Temple's stated vision is to cultivate disciples for the kingdom by embracing, engaging, equipping, empowering, and evangelizing. The Foundation Scripture that anchors this mission is the Great Commission from Matthew 28:18 to 20: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." That verse undergirds everything from the church's evangelism department to its ministries for children, youth, adults, and seniors.
Sundays on Yadkin Road
The heartbeat of the week is Sunday morning. Two worship services are offered in the New Sanctuary: an 8:30 AM service with doors opening at 8:00 AM, and an 11:00 AM service with doors opening at 10:30 AM. Children's Church and the Nursery are provided during both services, so parents can worship without distraction. Adult Sunday School gathers at 10:00 AM in the New Fellowship Hall. A separate Youth Worship Service takes place at 11:00 AM on the second and fourth Sundays of each month, and Communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. On fifth Sundays, the Male Chorus Singing Union travels to a selected church in the Fayetteville District for an afternoon fellowship of song.
Mid-week worship and study are equally woven into the rhythm. Wednesday Bible Study meets at 12:00 noon in the New Fellowship Hall, with an evening session at 6:45 PM that follows an hour of Intercessory Prayer in the New Sanctuary. Corporate Prayer takes place every Monday at 7:00 AM, with anyone able to dial in by phone. The Master Life Discipleship Class runs each Wednesday from late winter through summer in the New Fellowship Hall.
Choirs, Praise Teams, and the Arts
Music and the arts are central to life at Simon Temple. The Minister of Music and Arts, Bro. Jon Rankins, oversees a stacked lineup of ensembles that rehearse throughout the week. The Mass Choir and Gospel Choir meet in the New Sanctuary on the Tuesdays and Thursdays before the second and third Sundays. The Male Chorus, the Children's Choir for ages four to ten, the Youth Choir for ages eleven to twenty-one, and the Praise and Worship Team round out the vocal program. Praise Dance and Mime ministries rehearse in Kingdom Plaza on Thursdays, and the Energizers practice on select Saturdays. Under Bishop Brian R. Thompson Sr.'s leadership, which began in 2001, the audio/visual ministry expanded with new compact disc and video recording capabilities to broadcast the message beyond the walls.
Ministries for Every Age and Season
The church invites every member to find a place in one of its many committees and organizations, and the ministry interest form lists more than thirty possibilities. Beyond the choirs, opportunities include the Ambassador Ministry, Audiovisual Ministry, Book Club, Children's Church, Greeters, Hospitality Committee, Kitchen Committee, Media Ministry, Security Ministry, Usher Board (with separate Senior, Adult, and Junior boards), and the Grievance Ministry. A new member committee, headed by Sis. Mal Ward, walks newcomers through orientation and class.
For the youngest generation, the Children Development Center provides quality childcare that helps children grow intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. The Daughters of Excellence ministry, founded for girls ages nine to eighteen, exposes them to spiritual, cultural, educational, and social opportunities through monthly teaching sessions, annual leadership institutes, formal balls, college visitations, and community service projects. The youth ministry, alive with praise dancing, mime, and step team, anchors the second and fourth Sunday youth worship services.
Adults find ministries tailored to life stage and circumstance. The Men of Zion meets on Tuesdays following the second Sunday. The Singles, Divorced, Widow(er), and Single Parents Ministry offers a community for those navigating life alone or rebuilding family. Grandparents As Parents (G.A.P.) recognizes the increasing number of older members raising grandchildren again. Senior Citizens maintain an active fellowship, and the Bereavement Support Group and the Living with Cancer Ministry come alongside members during seasons of grief or illness. The Marriage Ministry, coordinated by Bro. George and Sis. Michelle Williams, equips couples to lead their best lives together with God at the center.
Women of Excellence
The Women of Excellence (W.O.E.) is the foundation of the women's work at Simon Temple. Founded in August 2004 under the threefold purpose of fostering unity, promoting spiritual growth, and building long-lasting healthy relationships, the ministry is advised by Lady Kerri Tillett. Its mission is to reach women of all ages and from all walks of life with the goal of encouraging one another while fostering a sense of sisterhood and accountability. The goal is to create an atmosphere of oneness, acceptance, and love, so that no woman leaves Simon Temple feeling alone or unloved.
Within W.O.E., the Women Empowerment ministry, led by Rev. Ida Bennett and Rev. Paula Young, provides effective, motivating, and encouraging resources to enhance spiritual connections among Christian women. The Wives of Empowerment, coordinated by Sis. Victoria Bogan and Sis. LaShawn McGrue, cultivates a Christ-centered approach to marriage through twice-monthly Zoom book studies and quarterly in-person gatherings for brunch, dinner, or activities. The Daughters of Excellence, the young women's arm, complements the broader W.O.E. mission with age-appropriate formation.
Men, Military, and Deployed Families
The Men of Zion meet regularly and serve as one of the cornerstones of male fellowship and service. Simon Temple also takes seriously the military character of Fayetteville, home to Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg). The Deployed Spouses Ministry supports families whose loved ones are stationed away, and a Freedom Fighters bulletin board in the courtyard entrance lists deployed military and civilian personnel for ongoing prayer. The church prays regularly for its deployed soldiers and overseas workers, and the Military ministry page invites members to add names to the list at the church office.
Reaching Beyond the Walls
Outreach is woven into Simon Temple's identity. The Good Samaritan Ministry has, since September 2004, fed and clothed the homeless and less fortunate. Meals on Wheels delivers hot meals five days a week to the homebound, a program that has run continuously since the late 1990s. The Ministry House operates a Food Bank and Clothing Closet, following USDA civil rights guidelines, and a Food Pantry meeting convenes in the Ministry House on third Wednesdays. Prison Ministry reaches the incarcerated, and the Bereavement and Cancer Support Groups steady members through loss and illness. The Department of Evangelism, led by Rev. Geneva Anderson, and the Wealth Empowerment ministry work to strengthen members spiritually and financially.
Pastor Keith Tillett and the Pastoral Team
The Rev. Dr. Keith Derrick Tillett has pastored Simon Temple since November 2021. Born in Portland, Maine, he grew up in San Diego as an active member of Logan Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Livingstone College, a Master of Divinity from Hood Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in preaching and leadership from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Before Fayetteville, he pastored Rhynes Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church in Bessemer City, North Carolina, and Zion Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church in Troutman, North Carolina, and served for twenty-one years as pastor of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Ewing, New Jersey, where he navigated a sanctuary ceiling collapse in 2008 and later led the purchase of a million-dollar facility on 3.5 acres of land. In the Central North Carolina Conference, he serves as chair of the budget committee, a member of the finance committee and Board of Trustees, and Dean of Winter Convocation. He is married to Kerri Thompson-Tillett, an attorney and administrator, and is the father of Kyndal Elaine, a Hampton University graduate, and Keith Derrick II, a Morehouse College student.
Around him stands a full pastoral and administrative team. Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Brown, Sr. serves as Presiding Elder of the Fayetteville District and oversees quarterly conferences at Simon Temple and seventeen sister churches. Bro. Willie Meeks serves as Preacher's Steward. Rev. Donelle Simmons serves as HR Director and Office Manager, supported by Office Administrators Sis. Rebeca Gentry, Sis. Mary King, and Sis. Hellen Jones. Sis. Inez Barbour serves as Director of Membership and Junior Usher Board Advisor. Rev. Maliik H. Jefferson serves as Director of Communication, Bro. Jon Rankins as Minister of Music and Arts, Sis. Sarah Wilson as Christian Education Director and Nursery Committee lead, and Rev. Geneva Anderson as Department of Evangelism Chair. A roster of associate ministers supports the pastoral work, including Reverend Rosemary Matthews, Reverend Ida Bennett, Reverend Dr. Christopher Oliver, Reverend Samaria Richardson, Reverend Dr. Carol Davis, Reverend Ronnie VanDyke, Reverend Carlton Smith, Reverend Geraldine McLean, Reverend Brenda McNair, Reverend Paula Battle-Young, Reverend Wilhelmina Rogers, Reverend Geneva Anderson, Reverend Mark Eubanks, Reverend Cynthia Olden, Reverend Baga Glaize, Reverend Dr. Jevonne Bradley, and Reverend Tracey Sneed.
Visiting Simon Temple
Simon Temple is located at 5760 Yadkin Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303, with phone (910) 867-1182 and email info@simontemple.com. Office hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM; the office is closed Saturday and reopens Sunday from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM. Visitors are encouraged to complete a Visitor's Survey Form online, and a Plan Your Visit page allows newcomers to reserve a seat at the service of their choice and even request a ride.
Those unable to attend in person can worship online. Services are livestreamed, previous messages are archived on YouTube, and the Simon Temple podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube Audio Podcast, and Spotify. A dedicated church app for iPhone, iPad, and Android keeps members connected to sermons, events, daily devotionals, and giving.
Giving supports the ministry through multiple options: Text STEMPLE and the gift amount to 74483, online giving through SecureGive, the Givelify mobile app, or CashApp at $SimonTempleAMEZion. The church's address for in-person giving is the same Yadkin Road location.
From a deed in 1873 to a livestreamed Sunday worship in 2026, Simon Temple A.M.E. Zion Church has answered the same call. The doors are open, there is room for you, and the hospitality that has defined this Fayetteville congregation for more than a century and a half continues today.